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Alma Hernandez

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Alma Hernandez
Hernandez in 2022
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 20th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2023
Serving with Betty Villegas
Preceded byShawnna Bolick
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 3rd district
In office
January 14, 2019 – January 9, 2023
Serving with Andrés Cano
Preceded byMacario Saldate
Succeeded byAlexander Kolodin
Personal details
Born (1993-04-11) April 11, 1993 (age 31)
Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
RelativesConsuelo Hernandez (sister)
Daniel Hernández Jr. (brother)
ResidenceTucson, Arizona

Alma Hernandez (born April 11, 1993) is an American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Arizona House of Representatives for the 20th district. Hernandez was elected in 2018 to succeed Macario Saldate, who was term-limited.[1] She was the youngest woman elected to the Arizona House of Representatives.[2]

Early life and education

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Hernandez is a native of Tucson, Arizona, and attended the University of Arizona before becoming involved as the program coordinator of Bridging the Gap, a program that helps women living with HIV/AIDS.[3]

At the age of 14, when she was a student at Sunnyside High School, Hernandez was assaulted by two 19-year-old seniors outside the school, and then also assaulted by the School Resource Officer who intervened. This has left her with damage to her spine.[4]

Political career

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On August 29, 2018, Hernandez finished in second place in the primary election of the Democratic Party for the 3rd Legislative District, which allowed her to advance to the elections to the Arizona House of Representatives. She was elected on November 6, 2018.[5]

Her first achievement as an elected official was the approval[4][6] with bipartisan support of an agreement to initiate mandatory training in crisis intervention and de-escalation for school resource officers in July 2019. On July 6, 2021, a bill sponsored by Hernandez requiring Holocaust education in public schools in Arizona was passed by the State Legislature. This made Arizona the 16th state of the United States to make Holocaust education mandatory.[7]

In April 2023, Hernandez was one of five House Democrats who voted to override Governor Katie Hobbs' veto of HB2509, a bill that would have legalized sales of "cottage foods" and became well-known nationally as the "Tamale Bill."[8][9] The veto override failed by 5 votes, with 12 Democrats changing their vote from the original House vote to the override.[10] Alma said that her allegiance was "to Arizonans, not to Hobbs" in an interview with Arizona Mirror.[11]

Stances

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Jewish community

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Hernandez has worked as the coordinator of Tucson’s Jewish Community Relations Council,[12] and has been involved in the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

On May 18, 2021, one of the doors of the Congregation Chaverim, which Hernandez belongs to, was smashed with a rock, and on June 7, 2021, a Chabad synagogue was vandalized in Tucson. She denounced both incidents on Twitter.[13]

On July 11, 2021, Hernandez spoke at a rally organized by pro-Israel Jewish organizations held in front of the United States Capitol, denouncing antisemitism and stating her support of Israel.[14] Additionally, in 2021, Hernandez introduced and passed a bill to make Holocaust education mandatory in Arizona.[15]

In 2023, following the Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians, Hernandez was targeted by anti-Israel activists in her home neighborhood.[16] She has been a vocal leader of Arizona Democrats rallying against pro-Palestinian organizations such as Mass Liberation.[17]

Immigration

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Hernandez has served with the Young Democrats of America Hispanic caucus, and participated in rallies protesting Trump Administration's family separation policy,[18] as well as coordinated deliveries of basic necessities to poor families in the Mexican border town of Nogales, where her mother is originally from, on behalf of a progressive activist group she co-founded, Tucson Jews for Justice.[12]

Personal life

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Hernandez was raised in a non-religious home and converted to Judaism in 2015; she became interested in learning about Judaism during her teenage years[12] after discovering that her maternal grandfather was Jewish.[18] Her sister Consuelo Hernandez also serves as a State Representative and her brother Daniel Hernández Jr. is a former State Representative and Candidate for US Congress.

After being elected to the Arizona House of Representatives, she was featured, along with seven other women, in advertisement campaign for the plus-size clothing brand ELOQUII.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Steller, Tim (February 18, 2018). "Steller column: 3 Hernandez siblings could reshape Tucson politics". Tucson.com. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Arizona lawmaker Alma Hernandez appears as model in advertisements for clothing brand ELOQUII
  3. ^ "About Alma". Alma Hernandez for State House. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  4. ^ a b AZ Rep. Hernandez wins de-escalation training for school cops, by Phyllis Braun, at JewishAZ.com; published July 2, 2019; retrieved January 3, 2023
  5. ^ Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2018
  6. ^ The Hill's Latina Leaders to Watch 2019. The Hill
  7. ^ Arizona passes Holocaust education bill despite antisemitism definition debate. Pittsburg Jewish Chronicle
  8. ^ "Bill history for HB2509". AZ Leg. Website. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  9. ^ Healy, Jack (April 25, 2023). "The Hot Issue Bedeviling Arizona's New Governor: Tamales". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  10. ^ Duda, Jeremy (April 25, 2023). "Dems mostly side with Hobbs to block override of "tamale bill" veto". Axios Phoenix. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  11. ^ Gomez, Gloria Rebecca (April 25, 2023). "GOP push to override veto of 'tamale bill' fails after Democrats balk at going against Hobbs". AZ Mirror. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c Meet the Mexican-American Jew running for office on Arizona’s southern border. Times of Israel
  13. ^ Arrest made after Tucson synagogue spray-painted with swastika, antisemitic slur. KVOA
  14. ^ Rally in DC denounces anti-Semitism and shows support for Israel
  15. ^ "REP. ALMA HERNANDEZ ON HOW SHE AND HER FIRST-GRADE TEACHER BROUGHT HOLOCAUST EDUCATION TO ARIZONA, DESPITE ATTEMPTS TO SLOW IT DOWN". Campaign Against Antisemitism. Campaign Against Antisemitism. August 17, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  16. ^ Wurst, Erika (December 16, 2023). "Tucson lawmaker: Flyer condemning her stance on Israel includes home address". Tucson.com. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  17. ^ Stern, Ray. "A progressive group backs Hamas, splitting opinion on Arizona's Democratic Party". AZ Central. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  18. ^ a b This Jewish Latina wants to bridge political divides at the border. Fast Company
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