Raquel Terán

Raquel Terán is an American politician who previously served as a member of the Arizona Senate from the 26th district. She previously served in the Arizona House of Representatives and as chair of the Arizona Democratic Party.

Raquel Terán
Minority Leader of the Arizona Senate
In office
January 9, 2023 – March 2, 2023
Preceded byRebecca Rios
Succeeded byMitzi Epstein
Member of the Arizona Senate
In office
September 28, 2021 – April 13, 2023
Preceded byTony Navarrete
Succeeded byFlavio Bravo
Constituency30th district (2021–2023)
26th district (2023)
Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party
In office
January 23, 2021 – January 28, 2023
Preceded byFelecia Rotellini
Succeeded byYolanda Bejarano
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 30th district
In office
January 14, 2019 – September 28, 2021
Serving with Robert Meza
Preceded byTony Navarrete
Succeeded byChristian Solorio
Personal details
Born (1977-11-30) November 30, 1977[1]
Douglas, Arizona, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationArizona State University, Tempe

Early life

Terán was born in Douglas, Arizona. Her citizenship was challenged in court by an anti-immigration advocate in 2012, and again after her 2018 election.[2] The lawsuits were both dismissed.[3]

Career

Prior to being elected to the state legislature, Terán was a community organizer who was active in opposing Arizona SB 1070 that she believed had an "anti-immigrant sentiment."[4] She was part of the successful recall of Russell Pearce, the primary sponsor of SB 1070, in 2011.[2]

Terán was elected in November 2018 to the Arizona House of Representatives, and she assumed office on January 14, 2019. In 2021, Terán was elected chair of the Arizona Democratic Party.[5] On September 15, 2021, Terán was appointed to the Arizona Senate to fill the remainder of Tony Navarrete's two-year term following his resignation.[6]

The Senate Democratic Caucus elected Téran to serve as the minority leader of the Arizona State Senate, succeeding outgoing minority leader Rebecca Rios, in December 2022.[7] She stepped down as state party chair to focus on the position,[7] and stepped down as minority leader in March 2023, as she explored a run for the United States House of Representatives.[8]

In April 2023, after Congressman Ruben Gallego announced his intention to run for the United States Senate against incumbent Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Téran announced her candidacy to succeed Gallego in Arizona's 3rd congressional district of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2024 elections.[9] On April 13, 2023, Terán announced she was resigning from the Arizona Senate to focus on her congressional run.[10] In July 2023, the Working Families Party announced their endorsement of Terán.[11]

References
  1. "Raquel Teran for Congress | Phoenix". Raquel Teran.
  2. Acevedo, Nicole; Nuño-Pérez, Stephen; Gamboa, Suzanne (November 9, 2018). "Newly elected Raquel Terán defiant as she faces a birther movement in Arizona". NBC News. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  3. Acevedo, Nicole (November 14, 2018). "Judge dismisses 'birther' lawsuit against newly elected Arizona Latina, Raquel Terán". NBC News. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  4. Nuño-Pérez, Stephen (May 10, 2018). "In Arizona, several Latina progressives, Democrats run for local, state races". NBC News. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  5. "Raquel Terán elected Arizona Democratic Party chair". Apnews.com. January 24, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  6. Associated Press (September 15, 2021). "Terán selected to replace Navarrete in Arizona Senate". KTAR.com. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  7. Destination: Drama! (December 6, 2022). "Arizona Democrats experience big win this election season - Arizona PBS". Azpbs.org. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  8. "Arizona Senate Democrats pick new minority leader". AP News. March 2, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  9. "State Sen. Raquel Terán announces run for 3rd Congressional District". Azcentral.com. January 9, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  10. "Democratic Arizona Sen. Raquel Terán resigns to focus on congressional run". KTAR. April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  11. Brittany Gibson (July 25, 2023). "Progressive Working Families Party backs candidate to replace Rep. Ruben Gallego". Politico. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
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