Raquel Terán Explained

Raquel Terán
Office:Minority Leader of the Arizona Senate
Term Start:January 9, 2023
Term End:March 2, 2023
Predecessor:Rebecca Rios
Successor:Mitzi Epstein
Office1:Member of the Arizona Senate
Term Start1:September 28, 2021
Term End1:April 13, 2023
Predecessor1:Tony Navarrete
Successor1:Flavio Bravo
Constituency1:30th district (2021–2023)
26th district (2023)
Office2:Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party
Term Start2:January 23, 2021
Term End2:January 28, 2023
Predecessor2:Felecia Rotellini
Successor2:Yolanda Bejarano
State House3:Arizona
District3:30th
Alongside3:Robert Meza
Term Start3:January 14, 2019
Term End3:September 28, 2021
Predecessor3:Tony Navarrete
Successor3:Christian Solorio
Birth Place:Douglas, Arizona, U.S.
Party:Democratic

Raquel Terán (born November 30, 1977)[1] 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.

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.

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 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]

In 2023, she opposed Arizona state legislation to increase housing supply through faster permitting processes and less restrictive zoning regulations. She said that she wanted guarantees for affordable housing.[12]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Raquel Teran for Congress | Phoenix . Raquel Teran.
  2. News: Newly elected Raquel Terán defiant as she faces a birther movement in Arizona . NBC News . November 9, 2018 . Nicole . Acevedo . Stephen . Nuño-Pérez . Suzanne . Gamboa . November 13, 2018.
  3. News: Judge dismisses 'birther' lawsuit against newly elected Arizona Latina, Raquel Terán . NBC News . November 14, 2018 . Nicole . Acevedo . July 20, 2020.
  4. News: In Arizona, several Latina progressives, Democrats run for local, state races . NBC News . January 14, 2019 . May 10, 2018 . Nuño-Pérez . Stephen.
  5. Web site: Raquel Terán elected Arizona Democratic Party chair . Apnews.com . January 24, 2021. April 6, 2023.
  6. Web site: Associated Press . Terán selected to replace Navarrete in Arizona Senate . KTAR.com . September 15, 2021 . September 15, 2021.
  7. Web site: Destination: Drama! . Arizona Democrats experience big win this election season - Arizona PBS . Azpbs.org . December 6, 2022 . April 6, 2023.
  8. Web site: Arizona Senate Democrats pick new minority leader . AP News . March 2, 2023 . April 6, 2023.
  9. Web site: State Sen. Raquel Terán announces run for 3rd Congressional District . Azcentral.com . January 9, 2023 . April 6, 2023.
  10. Web site: Democratic Arizona Sen. Raquel Terán resigns to focus on congressional run . KTAR . April 14, 2023 . April 13, 2023.
  11. Web site: Brittany Gibson . Progressive Working Families Party backs candidate to replace Rep. Ruben Gallego . . July 26, 2023 . July 25, 2023.
  12. Web site: Sievers . Caitlin . 2023-03-14 . Sweeping bill to address Arizona's housing crisis shot down . Arizona Mirror . en-US.