Daniel Hernández Jr.

Daniel Hernández Jr. (born January 25, 1990) is an American politician and former member of the Arizona House of Representatives.[1] A member of the Arizona Democratic Party, he served alongside Rosanna Gabaldón in Legislative District 2.[1] Hernández interned for U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords and was present when she was shot during a 2011 constituent meeting. He has been credited with helping to save Giffords's life after the incident.[2]

Daniel Hernández
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 2nd district
In office
January 9, 2017 – January 9, 2023
Preceded byJ. Christopher Ackerley
Succeeded byJustin Wilmeth
Personal details
Born (1990-01-25) January 25, 1990
Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
RelativesAlma Hernandez (sister)
Consuelo Hernandez (sister)
EducationUniversity of Arizona (BA, MLS)
WebsiteCampaign website

Early life and education

Hernandez was born in 1990 to Daniel Hernandez Sr. and Consuelo Quiñones Hernandez, a working-class family in Tucson, Arizona.[3] He has two younger sisters, Consuelo and Alma Hernandez.[4]

In 2008, Hernandez volunteered for the Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign and Gabby Giffords' re-election campaign.[5] He graduated from Sunnyside High School in 2008.[6] Hernandez earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Master of Legal Studies from the University of Arizona.[7]

Career

In 2011, while a student at the University of Arizona, Hernandez worked as an intern in the office of Gabby Giffords. During the first week of his internship, Hernandez helped organize a "Congress on your Corner" event, which was the site of the 2011 Tucson shooting. After Giffords was shot in the head, Hernandez held her up and stanched the bleeding with his hand until employees from the nearby grocery store brought him clean smocks.[5] In doing so, he is credited with saving the congresswoman's life.[2] Later that year, he was elected to the board of the Sunnyside Unified School District.[8][9]

Arizona Legislature

In 2016, Hernandez ran for the Arizona House of Representatives. He defeated Republican incumbent J. Christopher Ackerley in the general election alongside Democratic incumbent Rosanna Gabaldón. Together, Hernandez and Gabaldon won the two seats of the Arizona House's 2nd District, with Hernandez receiving 32,651 votes. Hernandez and Gabaldon had previously defeated Aaron Baumann in the Democratic primary.[10]

He was one of three openly gay members of the Arizona State Legislature, alongside Cesar Chavez and Robert Meza[11] and is a co-founder of the LGBTQ Caucus in Arizona.[8][12]

Hernandez endorsed a 2016 ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona.[13]

On May 20, 2021, Hernandez announced his candidacy in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona in the 6th congressional district.[14][15] He lost to Kirsten Engel in the Democratic primary.[16]

Political positions

Hernández has described himself as "pragmatic" and has expressed willingness to collaborate with Republicans.[17]

The Arizona Sierra Club gave Hernández's voting record an A rating from 2017 to 2019 and a B rating from 2020 to 2021.[18][19][20][21][22]

Hernández is strongly supportive of Israel and has described himself as a "pro-Israel activist."[23]

Hernández has expressed support for increasing government presence at the Mexico–United States border through the use of drones, sensors, and law enforcement officers (such as those of the United States Border Patrol).[24]

Personal life

Hernandez's maternal grandfather was a Mexican Jew. His family are members of a synagogue.[25] Hernandez is openly gay.[26]

References
  1. "A day of drama: Here is a rundown of who won, who lost in Tuesday’s election". Arizona Capitol Times, November 9, 2016.
  2. "Intern's memoir recalls Giffords shooting". CNN. February 6, 2018.
  3. "Note to Self: Daniel Hernandez Jr". CBS News. February 5, 2013.
  4. "Daniel Hernandez Jr. calm and mature since he was a child". Tucson.com. January 20, 2011.
  5. Steinmetz, Katy (January 13, 2011). "Daniel Hernandez: The Intern Who Helped Rescue Giffords". Time.
  6. "Sunnyside alum Daniel Hernandez, Jr. to be honored by district". Tucson KOLD. February 22, 2011.
  7. "Daniel Hernandez, Jr.'s Biography". Vote Smart. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  8. "Meet the Candidates: Arizona's Daniel Hernandez". The Advocate, November 2, 2016.
  9. "Election Summary Report: 111108pimaconsolidated". Pima County. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  10. "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2016 General Election November 8, 2016" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  11. "After Phoenix Pride, LGBT political representation is a yearlong issue". The State Press, April 15, 2018.
  12. "In Arizona, Advocating For The LGBTQ Community Starts In Local Politics". NPR.org. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  13. "101GrowLights Acquires the Daily Chronic".
  14. "Former Giffords intern Daniel Hernandez announces Congressional bid". AZFamily. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  15. Hansen, Ronald J. "Daniel Hernandez enters growing Democratic field for Tucson-area congressional seat". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  16. Price, Michelle (August 3, 2022). "Michigan GOP Rep. Meijer loses reelection after Trump vote". The Herald. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  17. "Political Notebook: Third Dem joins race for former Giffords seat in Congress". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  18. "2017 Environmental Report Card Arizona Legislature and Governor". Sierra Club. May 30, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  19. "2018 Environmental Report Card Arizona Legislature and Governor". Sierra Club. May 16, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  20. "Sierra Club Releases 2019 Environmental Report Card". Sierra Club. June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  21. "Sierra Club Releases 2020 Environmental Report Card Actions by the 2020 Arizona Legislature and Governor Ducey Doing more harm than good". Sierra Club. July 15, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  22. "Sierra Club Releases "2021 Environmental Report Card" -- Bad Session for Democracy, Water, Climate, and more..." Sierra Club. July 20, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  23. Kassel, Matthew (July 20, 2021). "Daniel Hernandez wants to be the next pro-Israel progressive in Congress". Jewish Insider. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  24. "Congressional District 6 Democratic candidates debate immigration, inflation and more". Arizona PBS. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  25. Oltuski, Romy. "Meet the Mexican-American Jewish Millennial Running for Office in Arizona". InStyle. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  26. "Steller column: 3 Hernandez siblings could reshape Tucson politics".
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