Jane Dee Hull was ineligible for re-election in 2002. In the Republican primary, Salmon defeated Arizona Secretary of State Betsy Bayless and Arizona Treasurer Carol Springer 56–30–14%. He won every county in the state. In the general election, he faced Democratic nominee and Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano, Libertarian nominee Barry Hess, and former Arizona Secretary of State Richard D. Mahoney (who ran as an independent, but was previously a Democrat). Napolitano defeated Salmon 46.2–45.2%, a difference of just 11,819 votes. Political activism After that race, he served as a lobbyist and chairman of the Arizona Republican Party. In 2007, he served as campaign manager to businessman Scott Smith's successful campaign for Mayor of Mesa. In 2008, he became President of the Competitive Telecommunications Association, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association. U.S. House of Representatives (2013–2017) Elections 2012 In April 2011, Salmon announced he would seek his old congressional seat, which was now numbered as the 5th District. His conception of term limits had evolved: in 2011 he stated that they were a flawed concept unless they were applied across the board. His successor in Congress, Jeff Flake, was giving up the seat to run for the United States Senate. He was endorsed by the Club for Growth, Governor Jan Brewer, Senator John Thune, Congressman David Schweikert, Congressman Trent Franks, and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. In the August 28 Republican primary, he defeated former state house speaker Kirk Adams 52–48%. In the general election, Salmon defeated Democrat Spencer Morgan 65–35%. 2014 Salmon was reelected almost as easily in 2014. However, he announced on February 25, 2016, that he is retiring for good. Committee assignments Committee on International Relations / Committee on Foreign Affairs Chair, Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Chair, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific Committee on Education and the Workforce Tenure In March 2013, he endorsed the idea of bringing back the Hastert Rule, which is that in order to bring a bill to the floor it must have a majority of the majority party's support. He also proposed an amendment to the United States Constitution limiting House members to three terms in office and Senators to two. Abortion Salmon is pro-life and has opposed federal funding of abortions as well as family-planning assistance that includes abortions. Gay rights Salmon voted to ban gay couples adopting children and opposes gay marriage. In April 2013, Salmon announced that he would