PPAA’s 2020 Candidate Endorsements: Leadership to Trust In

In a time of declining trust in government, public institutions and the commitment of civil servants, Arizona needs leadership that they know will be dedicated to furthering the cause of reproductive justice and progress for all. Productive legislators are the best legislators, and that is why Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona is excited to endorse Representative Daniel Hernandez, and Senators Andrea Dalessandro and Lela Alston. Arizona’s challenges are many, and time is short, this is a time for legislators who get things done. Let’s support them in winning their primaries on August 4th and get them back to Phoenix to keep up their good work.

Daniel Hernandez, representing the 2nd Legislative District, is no stranger to assisting those Arizonans who need it most. He began his journey in progressive politics volunteering on the Clinton 2008 and Gabby Giffords reelection campaign. On January 8th, 2011, Representative Giffords was wounded in the head at a constituent event. Hernandez, near to Giffords, fearing the potential of choking, stanched the bleeding with his hand until responders could arrive to assist. In doing this, Hernandez has been credited with saving the life of Congresswoman Giffords. Since then, Hernandez went on to serve on the school board of his alma mater, Sunnyside Unified School District, and in 2016, was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives. Throughout his tenure, Hernandez has received accolades for his championing of progressive issues. In 2019, he was named the Women’s Healthcare Champion for 2019 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and awarded the Barbara Jordan Progressive Leadership Award by the People for the American Way.

In the House, Representative Hernandez signed onto the letter demanding the U.S Supreme Court protect abortion access without restriction. As one of the four openly gay members of the Arizona House and a cofounder of the House LGBT Caucus, Hernandez led the coalition efforts to repeal the antiquated and homophobic 1991 “No Promo Homo” law. Arizona needs Representative Hernandez in Phoenix pressing for righteous public policy.

Andrea Dalessandro, representing the 2nd District, has spent much of her life educating, teaching Americans of all ages the tenets of an America that is compassionate and good. Returning to Arizona after school, Dalessandro served as a teacher and CPA for 25 years and since 2008, has been a progressive champion for public education, climate justice and corporate responsibility in the State Senate. Serving as the state lead for the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, Dalessandro is one of only four state legislators to receive an A+ rating from the Grand Canyon Sierra Club chapter. She additionally was named Legislator of the Year by the Arizona Association of Community Health Centers. 

In partnership with the reproductive justice champions in the state legislature, Dalessandro signed onto the letter demanding the Supreme Court protect abotion access in the United States. In 2020, she was a cosponsor on S.B. 1550, which mandated repealing the right of healthcare workers, hospitals and pharmacies to refuse abortions due to religious and morality objections. Senator Dalessandro has been faithfully serving Arizona for over a decade now. On August 4th, we need to make sure she has the chance to continue the good work.

Lela Alston, representing the 24th District, has taken an untraditional path in her legislative journey, but has never strayed from her passion to better the lives of Arizonans and push the progressive agenda. First elected to the Senate in 1976, an era that considered simply having women in state legislatures was an achievement, she served on the appropriations committee for 18 years before dedicating her life to public education and teaching. She returned to the legislature in 2010 and in 2018, was reelected to the Arizona Senate, where she has remained a steadfast advocate for education, economic equality and the rights of women throughout Arizona. 

Senator Alston, since rejoining the legislature, has regained her progressive bona fides. She was a cosponsor of H.B. 254, which mandates for the additional training of staff in all Arizona healthcare facilities to prevent neglect and abuse, particularly sexual abuse and violence. Alston also co-sponsored S.B. 1550, the law that rolled back the rights of conscientious objectors regarding abortion. A decades long progressive leader, let’s send Alston back to Phoenix on August 4th and November 3rd.