Rahel Hehn, the President of the University of Arizona College Democrats, has been busy since classes started, hosting elected US Senator Ruben Gallego and Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, all while mobilizing students to vote.
During the special election for US House District 7, Hehn commented on and participated in events supporting Grijalva, focusing on issues such as housing affordability, LGBTQ rights, and equity for Black and Brown communities.
She was the point of contact for Senator Ruben Gallego’s visit to speak on housing and student issues, as well as Adelita Grijalva’s campus rally.
She was one of the featured speakers in an event titled “Preparing for the Gen Z Takeover” organized by the Green Valley Democrats and the Democratic Club of Quail Creek Joint Program on September 13.
The 21-year-old senior is studying Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations. Rahel is the President of UA Aspiring Black Lawyers.
Political Activism
Under her leadership, the UA College Democrats have been actively engaged in campus political activities.
In a 2025 special election article covering Adelita Grijalva’s win and campaign, Hehn spoke about why she and the College Democrats supported Grijalva, saying:
“She represents a lot of the progressive values young people are embracing … housing affordability, social issues such as LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights, and support of Black and Brown communities.” She also described the door-to-door knocking, social media campaigns, and voter registration efforts.
At that same rally, when asked about cooperation with political opposites, Hehn said: “I would love to work with [UA] College Republicans … a lot of civil discourse … coming together … college students want to work toward a better future is always welcome.”
Student loans remain a major concern
At another event, Senator Ruben Gallego met with the UA College Democrats on September 23, 2025, and discussed how economic pressures are affecting young people. “Middle-class families face challenges affording housing, transportation and higher education,” Gallego said. “And student loans remain a major concern.”
During a campus visit by Senator Mark Kelly in 2024, promoting young voter turnout, Hehn said, “You can’t sit there and complain … step in and make a difference.”
“I helped a friend register to vote. She’s 19. She had never registered to vote, and that made me really proud just to see that people my age are willing to,” she said.
“It can feel like our vote doesn’t matter, or that everyone is looking at us to make a difference, but wouldn’t you rather be part of the difference than the person who stood by and did nothing?” Hehn said.
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Rahel Hehn and the entire membership of our College Democrats give us so much hope for a better future for us all. Thanks to them for stepping up to organize, inform and get out the vote to make the difference we need. We’ll all benefit when people have good housing, healthcare, education, income and the leisure time to have lives beyond work. And thanks for letting us know who is leading at the University of Arizona in this good post.