Andrés Cano

Cano earned his bachelor's degree (B.A.) in broadcast journalism from Arizona State University in 2014. He graduated cum laude from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, becoming the first person in his family to graduate from college.

While in college, Cano completed congressional internships in the offices of U.S. Senator Mark Udall and U.S. Congressman Ed Pastor.

In 2019, Cano completed Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow. In 2023, Cano announced his resignation from the Arizona State Legislature to attend the Harvard Kennedy School for a graduate program in public administration.[3]

Cano was raised by a single mom in Section 8 housing.[4]

In 2016, Cano was named an inaugural fellow of the Human Rights Campaign's HIV360 Fellowship Program as part of his work to reduce HIV transmission among Latinos in Southern Arizona.[5]

In July 2020, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona announced that it had hired Cano to lead the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund as its first director.[6] In its announcement, the fund said the following about Cano's hiring: "As we further our footprint as a philanthropic agent of change, Andrés’ ability to bring people together and build community will take us far in our second decade of supporting our LBGTQ+ sisters and brothers,” said Karin Uhlich, Chair of the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund Advisory Board."

On August 28, 2017, Cano announced his candidacy for the Arizona House of Representatives in a video posted on social media.[7] He won in 2018 and proceeded to win re-election in 2020 and 2022, resigning in 2023 as House Minority Leader.

Cano has served as volunteer board member with numerous organizations, including Planned Parenthood Arizona, Literacy Connects, Pan Left Productions, and the Rural Community Assistance Corporation.

In 2016, Cano was named an inaugural fellow of the Human Rights Campaign's HIV360 Fellowship Program as part of his work to reduce HIV transmission among Latinos in Southern Arizona.[5]

In 2016, Cano was named the Center for the Future of Arizona's 'Emerging Leader,' becoming the organization's youngest—and first Latino—award recipient.[8]

In 2020, Cano was awarded the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's Young Alumnus of the Year Award.[9]

Cano was the top vote-getter in the August 28, 2018, Democratic primary election, paving the path for his nomination as a candidate for one of two open seats in the November general election.

In 2020, Cano successfully ran for a second-term. He was re-elected to his third term in November 2022.[10]

In the 56th legislature, Cano serves as the Ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee; a committee assignment that he has maintained since his first term in 2019.

Prior to becoming Democratic Leader in January 2023, Cano served as the Ranking Democrat on the Natural Resources, Energy, and Water Committee in the 55th legislature.[11]

As a legislator, Cano introduced legislation to restore funding to the state's community colleges.[12] In 2022, Cano helped negotiate a historic bipartisan bill to conserve the state's water resources.[13]

• Official website