Barrio Santa Rosa Resident and a four-term State House Representative who has delivered results for her constituents, Alma Hernandez would like to become Arizona Legislative District 20’s next State Senator.
If elected, she vows to bring her legislative experience and public policy knowledge to work for:
- Affordable Housing.
- Civil Rights.
- Public Education Funding.
- Affordable and Quality Health Care.
- Water Security.
- ESA Reform.
Representative Hernandez graciously met with Blog for Arizona to discuss her candidacy for the State Senate.
The questions and her responses are below.
Please tell the readers two reasons why you would like to become the next State Senator from LD20.
“I’ve been serving now for the last eight years. One of the main reasons is because I have been able to deliver wins for my community, and I want to continue building on that. One of the main issues that I’m very focused on, and I will make sure that we get it done, is making sure that we establish our Emergency Rental Assistance Program. This is something that I started this session with. I even got Republicans to co-sponsor it. Of course, Mr. Peterson in the Senate killed the bill, but it is something that’s extremely important to me because we are hearing not only in my district, but around Arizona, that folks are losing their homes because they can’t afford their rent. So that is something that I really want to prioritize going into this next session. I know I can get it done. It’s just going to require probably another time that I run the bill.”
“The second thing is my record of being able to deliver wins and actually show that I can get the work done. That is another main reason, but one specific issue that is very important to me and dear to my heart, and there’s one that I’ve been working on for the last three years, which is making sure that I pass my Civil Rights Restoration Act. I’ve been working with our juvenile public defenders here in Pima County. I went through the juvenile system as a 14-year-old. I know what it’s like. I’ve been through it. I’ve experienced it, and I want to ensure that we are giving the youth an opportunity and a shot at life like I had. So, making sure that these individuals don’t have this hanging over their heads because it not only impacts housing, it impacts their ability to be able to be productive members of society. So that is another priority of mine. I know I teamed up this year. We even added the Stand for Children organization that does a lot of criminal justice reform stuff. So that is one of my top priorities, is passing my Juvenile Civil Rights Act. I am committed to getting it done, but those are two top issues on why I want to continue and why I want to be the next senator in our district.”
Please tell the readers what at least two reasons voters should choose you over your primary opponent are, and if you win the primary, general election opponent.
“I think one of the main reasons and issues really has been that I am not going to just sit here and promise things I cannot accomplish, you know, rhetoric is nice, but it doesn’t really mean anything. I think it’s really important to show people what you’ve actually accomplished and that you can get the work done. So, there are very clear distinctions between myself and my opponent. I know what I’m fighting for and what I’ve been really strong on, and I will continue building on that. I’m actually talking about things that I can accomplish. It is very different when you have been successful for almost a decade and have actually gotten the work done.”
“I think the second one is the ability to work with people and be an effective lawmaker with those whom I don’t always agree with. At the doors, and if you look at the data from the poll that Arizona Clean Elections did before we had our debates, which was shared with all candidates participating. We all got to see this. My opponent has seen this as well, and he knows that the majority of Arizonans, not just in our district, but the majority of Arizonans, want the government to work for them. That means they want people working together. So this rhetoric of, ‘Someone’s not loyal to our party because they’re working across the aisle,’ is just absurd, and I think that one of the main drivers and distinctions between those that support me and my opponent is that those who are supporting me and those who have continued to support me for eight years know the type of leader that I am and they know that there is a distinction between us being the litmus test of being real Democrats versus actually being able to be productive and get work done. And voters want legislators who can have conversations and who can be professional to work with others, even if we don’t agree with them on every issue.”
You talked about the majority of Arizona voters, but we’re talking about a primary election. Do you worry that primary voters may see things a little bit differently with regards to cooperating with Republicans?
“I hear what you’re saying, but at the door it is absolutely not the case. Voters are not stupid they understand the makeup of our legislature and we continue to be in the minority. They know I’ve been named one of the most successful Democrats in the last 40 years. Democratic primary voters also want the same thing that every other voter wants, which is to make sure that we’re fighting for our healthcare, whether that’s fighting to ensure that AHCCCS continues for those that need it to survive. My opponent can say whatever he wants, but as a Democrat who has served successfully for the last eight years, the voters in my community know who I am. Those are the same primary voters who have supported me all these years. I’ve always had a primary except for the last cycle. The voters know that I’ve delivered, and know that I’m going to continue fighting like hell. And that’s what the voters want. They want to know that we are fighting, which is something that I’ve been doing. This isn’t new. I will continue to stand firm on my beliefs and continue to push hard and represent the district where I was born and raised. I was born and raised here and my opponent was not. And that’s also very clear. I know my community because I have been knocking on these doors since I was 14-years old.”
What are at least two issues you’ll be running on the 2026 cycle?
“My issues have always been the same when it comes to education. Affordability is obviously a top one for all of us. The kitchen table issues are what the voters and the people in our communities want to hear. I’m an educator and I’m an AFT union member. So for me, education is very important because education can open doors for people. I have been fighting and working on many issues, and I have already been leading on these issues for years.”
Expanding Healthcare.
Okay. How about a couple of quickies, expanding healthcare through statewide programs and water security? Yeah.
“I’ve been on the health committee for the last eight years. I’m one of the very few members of the legislative body, who has a background in health. I teach health policy at the university. I know a lot about this subject because that is my background. My main focus is that we protect people on the AHCCCS system. That program is essential, especially for low-income seniors. So that is something that I will continue fighting for and pushing back against when Republicans try to remove people from services they need to survive.”
Water Security
“When it comes to water we have a very important water deal that’s on the table right now that if we don’t figure out, the feds will come and figure out for us. I personally trust our Governor, and her team. I support them in their efforts to get Arizona the best deal and ensure that we are not giving up our water’s future.”
ESA reform.
“I think we can all agree that we have a serious problem when it comes to the ESA voucher system. It was intended to be for those with disabilities. It was intended to be for those who live in tribal communities. That program is no longer what it used to be. When we have individuals buying coffee machines that are $3,000 coffee machines, we have people going on their vacations to Disney World. That is not for educational purposes. We need to go back to, in my opinion, reforming the system that we have. That means putting caps and guardrails. The Protect Education Act was filed. Over 400,000 Arizonans signed that petition. That tells me that there are a good amount of people in our communities that want to see change. If we really want to make sure that we can fund programs like Meals on Wheels or our community colleges, we need to claw back some of the funds and not allow folks to use it as their personal savings account. I mean, the amount of money that’s literally sitting there in accounts right now that has not been used could be literally going to fund some of our social services, could be going to paying our teachers more. There’s so much we can do with this money. We just need to make sure that we reform it. Republicans are scared as hell for us to get this on the ballot. They tried everything to stop us. They are scared because they know that teachers will organize, and we are not going to back down.”
I know you are canvassing, but what are two other ways you’ll conduct voter and social media outreach to Democrats, Independents, and even like-minded Republicans?
I am not trying to convince Republicans, however we have a significant number of independents who vote in our primary and I have always talked to them. I’m talking to our Spanish voters because Spanish voters do vote. I’m doing radio, obviously all the traditional mail and of course the door to door work. I’m also supporting our local newspapers with ads on Luminaria, AZ Bilingual, and on Tucson Sentinel. Why? Because these are our local folks. So those are some of the things that I’m doing. Also, I have a really great team of folks that are very committed. I always say you have to run like you’re losing. That’s the attitude everyone should have and I am proud of the team and our efforts.
Are you doing stuff on TikTok too?
“No. I feel that most of the bulk of my voters, at least, are not on TikTok. I’ve been using Instagram and Facebook, social media does not win elections. If I have any spare time, it is calling voters and knocking on doors.”
Is there anything not covered in the first four questions that you’d like the readers to know about you and your candidacy for the Senate seat in LD20?
“I’m one of the longest-serving Democrats now at eight years, and I’m termed out in the House. I know my community is where I was born and raised.”
“I do have Secretary of State Adrian Fonte’s endorsement, which I’m very proud of. I have over 11 unions behind me because they know I can get the work done, but I don’t need all of the smaller or all of the Democratic elected officials because I’ve never had them. I’ve been running for the last eight years, truly working my butt off, making sure I get elected and helping other Democrats around the state get elected as well. I’ve seen people endorsed by the same exact people and have lost. I’m endorsed by our teachers, by our doctors, by our nurses. I have 11 unions behind me. Social media is great, and endorsements could look nice, but they don’t mean that’s going to have someone win the election. I’ve never had those endorsements to begin with, and I still win. I feel very confident about where I am in this race. I feel very confident about the voters in my district, and I feel very confident about the positive message that I’ve led with. I am not engaging in negative attacks. Every post I have seen about my opponent that he has posted himself; his literature, all mail has all attacked me, and I’m not spending my money to do that. I think it says a lot about a campaign and a person. I don’t need to attack my opponent because the voters don’t like negative attacks, and they want to know what I’m doing, what I’m going to do, and how I’m going to serve them.”
Please click here to find out more about Alma Hernandez and her candidacy for the State Senate in LD 20.
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