Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Candidate exploratory committee announcement from Wenona Benally Baldenegro, a Democrat exploring a run for Congressional District 1, currently represented by first term Tea-Publican Paul Gosar.
Wenona Benally Baldenegro Exploring Run for
U.S. House of Representatives, Arizona Congressional District 1
Wenona Benally Baldenegro, a member of the Navajo Nation, announced today that she is exploring a run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona’s Congressional District 1.
Wenona is considering a congressional run because, in her words, “This is a critical time for Arizona and the nation. The Republican-controlled State Legislature is balancing the budget on the backs of our county and city governments. More than ever, rural Arizona needs a Congressional representative who will vigorously fight for federal funding to offset deep cuts made to essential government programs and services.”
Wenona was born in Gallup, NM and raised in Kayenta, a rural town on the Navajo Reservation in northern Arizona. She is a Harvard-educated attorney who also received her Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She is an alumnae of Arizona State University and Barrett, The Honors College. For the past 10 years, Wenona has worked with a broad base of advocacy groups, policymakers and local nonprofits to advocate for the interests of low-income communities. “As Congresswoman for CD1, I will fight for solutions that help our working families and small business owners in this economic downturn while at the same time, protecting public health and the environment.”
Wenona’s candidacy is historic, in that she seeks to be the first American Indian woman to serve in the U.S. Congress, and the first American Indian from Arizona. “It is time for a new vision for Arizona and for the rest of the country. We need leaders who will stand up for the working poor and the disenfranchised and who will restore our image as proud Arizonans.”
Contact: Wenona Benally Baldenegro
BenallyBaldenegroforCongress@gmail.com