With Democratic House Leader Andres Cano leaving to pursue graduate opportunities at the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, the party caucus in the Arizona Lower Chamber, after nine hours and 11 rounds of voting, has chosen a new leadership team for the remainder of this legislative session.
The new Democratic House Leader will be Legislative District (LD) 22 Representative Lupe Contreras.
The new leader received more support than other contenders Alma Hernandez and Marcelino Quiñonez.
The new leader, a member of the legislature, as both a representative and senator, since 2013, will be joined by a new Assistant Leader and whip to join the other current whip, Melody Hernandez.
The new Assistant Democratic Leader will be LD 11 Representative Oscar De Los Santos.
LD 18 Representative Nancy Guitierrez will become the second whip, joining Representative Hernandez in that role.
Both De Los Santos and Gutierrez are starting their first terms in the Arizona State Legislature.
Governor Katie Hobbs posted her congratulations to the new team, earlier today (June 22, 2023.)
Attorney General Kris Mayes also showed her support, posting:
Outgoing House Democratic Leader Andres Cano issued a congratulatory post, stating:
The other contenders for Democratic Leader, now former Whip Marcelino Quinonez and Alma Hernandez posted their congratulations to the new leadership team, signaling their support in pursuing an agenda that will help move the state forward.
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