Schweikert previously served two terms in the Arizona State House of Representatives (1991–1994), was chairman of the state Board of Equalization (1995–2004), and was the elected Maricopa County Treasurer (2004–2007). Schweikert ran for the U.S. House of Representatives twice (losing a primary to J. D. Hayworth in 1994 and losing a general election to incumbent Harry Mitchell in 2008) before winning election to the House for the first time in 2010.