The Democrats of Greater Tucson membership voted to endorse state Senator Brian Fernandez and Rep. Mariana Sandoval in Legislative District 23, which includes Pima, Pinal, Maricopa and Yuma Counties, and a 230-mile stretch of the US-Mexico border.
The endorsements continue DGT’s longstanding support for progressive Democratic leadership in Tucson and Southern Arizona, following previous endorsements highlighted on DGT’s official endorsements page.
LD23 is a battleground district with 121,771 registered voters among an overall population of 232,246. Approximately 62% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino. It also includes the entire Tohono O’odham Nation (on the US side), Cocopah Tribe and part of the Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe.
Brian Fernandez of Yuma has been a member of the Arizona State Senate since 2023 and is running for re-election. As a state senator, Fernandez has focused on strengthening public schools, expanding affordable housing, and supporting working families across Arizona. His platform includes:
- Raising teacher pay, expanding rural training programs, and preparing students for careers that grow Arizona’s economy.
- Investing in roads, rural broadband, and long-term water solutions.
- Lower housing costs, offer gas rebates, and support working families with clean, affordable energy options.
His career experience includes working in software engineering, as a small business owner, as a technology entrepreneur and as a technology director with the US Senate. This year, Brian is backed by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee’s Target Races program because he’s an experienced legislator with an excellent chance to defend his seat and help Democrats gain the 3 seats they need to take the majority in the Arizona Senate.
See https://www.briansfernandez.com.
Mariana Sandoval of Goodyear has been a member of the Arizona House of Representatives since 2023. She is a former paralegal who worked in Legal Aid and spent 12 years at the Arizona Attorney General’s office. She served on the Agua Fria Union High School District governing board from 2017 to 2020. She has introduced legislation raising the minimum wage, banning employers from asking job applicants about salary history before making an offer and taxing millionaires.
Her platform includes:
- Creating jobs that pay well
- Affordable healthcare
- Strong water policies
- Protecting voter rights
- Quality public education
- Improved care for veterans
- Safe gun policies
See https://www.sandovalforaz.com/
