Dr. Randy Friese was first elected to the Arizona State Legislature to represent Legislative District 9 in 2014.

During his second term (2016) he was elected by his peers to be Assistant Minority Leader. In addition, Randy serves on the House Appropriates Committee and the Appropriates Subcommittee on Health and Welfare.


Randy was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland where he lived with his mother and older brother.

He attended public schools from kindergarten through medical school. One of the reasons Randy decided to run for office is his concern about the lack of support Arizona provides our public schools. Randy paid his way through college by working, being awarded academic scholarships and receiving needs-based scholarships and low-interest loans.

Upon graduating from high school Randy received a full 4-year college scholarship to attend the University of Maryland.  During college Randy worked as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician and Firefighter.

In 1986 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. He was accepted into the University of Maryland School of Medicine where he graduated with his M.D. in 1990.

Dr. Friese spent seven years at the University of Colorado Department of Surgery where he completed his surgical residency and Trauma Research Fellowship.

In 1997 Dr. Friese entered active duty military service with the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. For the next four years he served as a surgeon in Okinawa, Japan and Camp Pendleton, California.

After military service, Dr. Friese completed his Critical Care Fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Upon completing his fellowship he spent the next six years as a faculty member of the Surgery Department.

In 2008 Dr. Friese joined the University of Arizona College of Medicine as a member of the Trauma Team. In this role he is a Professor of Surgery where he trains young doctors, he is the Associate Medical Director and he is one of nine UAMC Trauma Surgeons that care for the injured in southern Arizona.


Dr. Friese was one of the Trauma Surgeons who cared for the victims of the Jan 8 shootings.


Dr. Friese was instrumental in adding Arizona to the National Violent Death Reporting System. This allows Arizona to gather, and share with the Centers for Disease Control, statistics concerning violent deaths in Arizona. This is an important first step towards finding real solutions to gun violence.

Dr. Friese is married to Susan Friese. Susan, a former nurse, is deeply involved in the Tucson community serving on several boards while also working as the Community Outreach Liaison for the non-profit organization Literacy Connects.  Randy and Susan share their home with their rescued animals (cats Blanca and Agador and Cooper the 12-year-old golden retriever).

Paid for by Dr Friese for House / Authorized by Dr. Randy Friese