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PRIORITIES 

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ECONOMY

A GOOD LIFE YOU CAN AFFORD.

We must create an economy where one job is enough to support a family. I am committed to raising wages for working families, expanding grants and tax incentives for small businesses, increasing access to well-paying jobs in our district, strengthening protections against workplace discrimination and harassment, making housing more affordable, advancing rent control policies, and boosting funding for homelessness prevention.

As a former director of the Arizona Fair Housing Center, I understand the urgent need to make housing more affordable. Rising home prices and rent—driven by corporate price fixing, greed, increased land and labor costs, supply chain disruptions, and delays in zoning approvals for apartments and affordable housing—demand coordinated action from both the public and private sectors. At the same time, housing discrimination in group homes is becoming more prevalent. Arizona must move quickly to invest in affordable housing options for working families to confront these challenges head-on.

PROTECTING ARIZONA WORKERS

LIVING WAGES.

As a product of a union-raised family, I understand the critical need for quality, well-paying jobs that offer upward mobility for Arizonans. I will advocate for better healthcare, safe working conditions, union development, and the right to organize. To prepare Arizona's workforce for today's economy, we must establish competitive pay structures that keep pace with inflation. We need to attract companies that offer strong benefits and provide more labor training programs for students and young professionals.

CIVIL RIGHTS

STOP HATE.

As an unwavering champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, I am committed to advocating for legislation that advances equal treatment for all individuals, regardless of their ethnicity, creed, color, or orientation. My agenda includes a thorough examination and, where necessary, the repeal of discriminatory statutes to safeguard our cherished civil rights, which have been tirelessly fought for. It is imperative that we confront the longstanding systemic injustices faced by people of color, including Latinos, Asian Americans, Black, and Indigenous Americans, within the state of Arizona.

HCR 2060 was a bill designed to create racial profiling and harassment that will result in lawsuits, broken families and resentment, similar to SB 1070. Maricopa County continues to pay the price costing taxpayers over $300 million. 

IMMIGRATION & PUBLIC SAFETY

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) practices in Arizona have long undermined the principles of justice, community safety, and human dignity. The widespread use of detention centers, deportation raids, and aggressive enforcement tactics disproportionately targets Latino and immigrant communities, leaving families separated and individuals living in constant fear. These practices not only exacerbate social inequities but also erode trust in local law enforcement, as many immigrants are discouraged from reporting crimes or cooperating with authorities due to fear of detention. Arizona’s reliance on punitive immigration enforcement rather than community-based solutions perpetuates cycles of trauma and marginalization, contradicting our state’s responsibility to protect all residents regardless of documentation status.

A progressive approach demands that Arizona prioritize humane and equitable alternatives to ICE’s current enforcement regime. Investments should focus on providing legal support, access to healthcare, education, and pathways to citizenship, rather than funding detention and deportation. Community-led initiatives that strengthen social cohesion and protect vulnerable populations are proven to enhance safety without criminalizing immigrant communities. Arizona must reject policies that allow ICE to operate with impunity, and instead embrace a model that recognizes the inherent dignity of every human being, ensuring that families remain together and that all residents can live free from the fear of deportation.

True public safety is built on trust, not fear. When local law enforcement is diverted into acting as an extension of ICE, communities become less safe—victims and witnesses are afraid to report crimes, racial profiling increases, and resources are pulled away from addressing real threats like violent crime, drug trafficking, and exploitation. Opposing interior ICE enforcement is not about ignoring public safety; it is about protecting it. Policies that force cooperation with ICE have been shown to undermine community trust without reducing crime, while targeting long-time residents and families instead of traffickers or violent offenders.

A stronger, smarter approach focuses on strategies that actually make communities safer: coordinated drug interdiction efforts, re-entry services that reduce recidivism, mental health and substance use treatment, victim support, and community-based policing that builds relationships rather than fear. Public safety should protect people, support stability, and strengthen neighborhoods. We can stop drugs without stopping families, and we can fight crime without becoming ICE—because real safety means ensuring everyone can seek help, report harm, and live without fear.

ENVIRONMENT

PURE WATER & CLEAN AIR

Arizona's clean air and sustainable water crises demand urgent attention at the district, state, and national levels. As your representative, I pledge to champion policies that promote water sustainability and effective groundwater management. This includes advocating for increased investment in water conservation technologies, supporting legislation to mitigate pollution, and collaborating with stakeholders to develop comprehensive water management strategies. Furthermore, I am dedicated to fostering a green economy by promoting renewable energy initiatives, incentivizing sustainable practices in industries, and advocating for environmentally friendly policies at all levels of government. Together, we can build a greener, more resilient Arizona for future generations.

EDUCATION

EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL.

As a mother of two daughters in primary school, I advocate for legislative action to halt the recurring assaults on public education. We urgently need increased funding for daily maintenance, higher teacher and staff salaries, and enhanced capital funding to ensure every student has access to essential resources like textbooks and technology. With the surge in mental health challenges exacerbated by the pandemic, it's imperative to boost education revenue. I wholeheartedly endorse the idea of tuition-free community college for all Arizona residents and support the continuation of initiatives like the Arizona Teachers Academy to alleviate the financial burden on aspiring educators. In 2022, 88.2% of school-age children attended public schools in the US, with even higher rates in Tucson (89.1%) and Arizona overall (90.2%). With over 90% of Phoenix students enrolled in public schools, it's crucial to allocate funds effectively to support students, teachers, and schools. Collaboration with state and local education authorities is essential to safely maintain open schools.

ESA SCAM.

Arizona’s universal ESA voucher program has become, in my view, a fundamentally flawed system that operates more like a financial loophole than an education reform. Rather than delivering meaningful accountability or proven academic benefit, the program diverts over $1Billion of taxpayer dollars away from public schools into a largely unregulated marketplace. With costs rising far beyond original projections, many Arizonans believe the ESA expansion is pushing the state toward a budget deficit and placing an unsustainable burden on public finances. Without transparency, cost controls, or demonstrated educational outcomes, the program resembles a taxpayer-funded scam—one that shifts public money into private hands while leaving Arizona’s public schools and the state budget to absorb the consequences.

REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM

PROTECTING REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Support statutory and constitutional protections for reproductive freedom, including coverage of abortion services for those who depend on the government for their healthcare or coverage-including but not limited to Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries, US service members and veterans. Essential to prioritize policies that promote reproductive health equity, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographic location, can access the care they need. The decisions should always be between the individual, their physician and healthcare professionals. I strongly oppose “fake” health centers. Comprehensive sex education that is age-appropriate, medically accurate, culturally appropriate, inclusive, and evidence-based. Access to and coverage of comprehensive and holistic care throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. Support proposals to address rising maternal mortality and morbidity, including long standing health inequities that disproportionately harm Black and Native American communities.

HEALTH CARE

HEALTH CARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT.

Just as I fought for every American veteran to have access to healthcare worldwide, I will continue the fight for every Arizonan to have quality, accessible and affordable health care. I will work to protect reproductive rights, children's health care, and expand funding and access for behavioral and mental health. Arizonan families should have healthcare coverage despite legal or financial barriers.

VOTER PROTECTION RIGHTS

ELECTIONS BELONG TO THE PEOPLE. 

The Maricopa County Recorder's Office has consistently upheld the integrity of elections, ensuring they are conducted fairly and securely. Conversely, the Arizona Senate's misguided 'audit' of the 2020 election, led by Republicans, not only constitutes voter suppression but also undermines the trust of Arizona voters and squanders taxpayers' money. I am committed to combating voter suppression efforts and advocating for policies that enhance accessibility to voting, including preserving Vote By Mail and advocating for Same Day Registration on Election Day with proper proof of residency and citizenship. These measures will uphold election integrity while ensuring all Arizonans can exercise their right to vote.

UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE

INVEST IN UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE.

When it comes to taking care of our kids, Arizona’s families are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Childcare is essential: it provides stability, supports our children’s development, and allows parents to provide for their families. Unfortunately, childcare has become increasingly inaccessible in Arizona, with less childcare workers and rising costs. It’s past time that we invest in universal childcare.

In the last session, we have come a long way. However, there is still much working in helping childcare be more affordable. Existing nonprofit programs and scholarships have helped families access more affordable childcare. However, we should invest in and expand those options for all families across the state. We have an excellent childcare system for our military service members, and we can replicate the model in Arizona.


Inconsistent childcare, unaffordable childcare, or no childcare at all: all make it hard for working parents or those looking for jobs. For our communities right here in Legislative District 11, where our average household income is $35,000 per year and rent averages $24,000 a year, paying thousands of dollars in childcare every year may be almost impossible.

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By the U.S. Department of Health Services’ standards, only 8.7% of families in Arizona have “affordable” infant care. At the Arizona State House, I will continue to support:

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  • Guaranteed, affordable childcare for all families, capped at no more than 7% of household income.

  • Increased salaries, benefits, and access to a union for all childcare workers, who have been leaving the field at higher rates since the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Ensuring diverse, inclusive options with standards for high quality care.

  • Coordination with all relevant stakeholders when crafting childcare policy, including parents, childcare workers, unions, and other providers.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS OUTDATED, FLAWED AND A TAXPAYER BURDEN

Arizona has the 5th highest imprisonment rate in the country and as taxpayers, we spent over $1 billion a year just on the prison system. While many other states around the country work to reduce rates of imprisonment, Arizona’s has grown every year since 2000. In that time, the number of people incarcerated for non-violent offenses grew by 80%.

We owe our children a safe space free from violence, but when they are targeted, harassed, or criminalized at school, no one benefits.

It's clear: we’re criminalizing and imprisoning too many members of our communities over relatively trivial matters instead of finding evidence-based solutions to reduce crime and recidivism. In 2020, Arizona voters passed Prop 207, a promising first step in addressing the unnecessary criminalization of minor drug offenses.
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In the State House, I would support fair, data-driven reforms that will have an immediate benefit to families across Arizona, including:​​

  • The legislature should strictly regulate the role of School Resource Officers (SROs). SROs were created to protect students from internal or external threats. SRO’s should never be used to enforce school discipline, provide counseling, and/or be a substitute for trained professional staff.

  • Closing private prisons.

  • Repealing mandatory minimum sentencing laws with retroactive impact.

  • Banning the use of juvenile life without parole sentences. 

  • Prohibiting youth from being housed in adult jails and ensuring they have age-appropriate facilities. 

  • Reclassifying drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor. 

  • Raising the felony theft threshold.

  • Passing “Second Look” laws that allow courts to assess long sentences.

  • Investing in & incentivizing educational programs for those incarcerated.

  • Developing a pathway to release for incarcerated elderly, ill, and disabled people who are non-violent. 

  • Creating earned-time credit for those in prison. 

  • Offering positive diversion opportunities over jail time. 

  • With the upcoming reclassification of cannabis federal level, Arizona will need to re-evaluate penalties for possession of cannabis.

  • Limiting penalties for minor violations of supervision.

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