Rep. Peña Hopes Her Strong Relationships And Heart For Her Community Will Lead To Re-Election
By Staff Reporter |
A Republican embedded in a Democrat-leaning legislative district is key to her party’s chances of retaining control of the Arizona House of Representatives.
Michele Peña is running for re-election for the state House of Representatives in Arizona Legislative District 23. Though the district leans to the left, Peña surprised many in the state by winning a spot in the chamber during the November 2022 General Election. She will attempt to recreate the same strategy and momentum that previously propelled her campaign to victory.
As a member of the Arizona House, Peña serves as the Vice Chairman of the Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, and on the Education and Regulatory Affairs Committees.
In the primary election on July 30, Peña was the only Republican in the race for state House and finished with more votes than her two eventual Democrat opponents (9,597). After her strong finish, she posted, “Dear friends and supporters, I am incredibly grateful for your overwhelming support and for making me the top primary vote-getter in my race. This accomplishment is a testament to the trust and confidence you have placed in me, and I am deeply honored. A special thank you goes out to everyone in Legislative District 23, in Yuma, Maricopa, Pima and the 2 from Pinal. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in our success.”
The election result wasn’t solely for her benefit as Peña makes clear in her continuing statement: “If this trend continues, we will help maintain our majority, ensuring that our values and priorities are well represented. With your continued support, I am committed to serving you with dedication and integrity, just as I have over the past two years. Together, we can achieve even greater things for our community. Thank you once again for your faith in me.”
Peña has a heart for service to her community, which drove her desire to represent the men, women, and children of her district at the Arizona Legislature. On her website, she shares the reason for her motivation to serve, writing, “As the daughter of an immigrant and a resident raised in Yuma with experience in Pima County, love anchors my family in this district. Our priorities are rooted in God, Country, Family, and Community. I’m committed to addressing economic concerns, safeguarding our children, and meeting the unique needs of rural communities.”
The first-term lawmaker adds, “In my role as a representative, I’ve championed these values, winning a write-in race in 2022. I believe in policies that benefit all Arizonans while preserving our freedom and way of life. Your trust and vote for re-election in 2024 would be an honor. God bless Arizona.”
Representative Peña has a heart for the veterans’ community in her district and around the state. Earlier this month, she revealed a meeting with a veteran while campaigning. She said, “As I went door knocking this evening, I met a wonderful veteran who gave me great support. When re-elected, I will continue to work hard for our veterans in the AZ State House.”
She also recently promised to continue to “keep AZ safe & grow our economy” should voters return her to the state legislature, highlighting, “As your State Rep, I’m fighting for a balanced state budget, secure border, resources for law enforcement, & our local businesses.”
Back in June, Peña received the coveted endorsement of the Arizona Police Association.
On Peña’s campaign website, she lists several priorities for her current and future terms in office. The first is education, where she writes that “Your zip code shouldn’t dictate your future, and I will always advocate for choice and access in education.” The second is agriculture, where she writes that “my family’s long-standing connections to southern Arizona and the agricultural industry have provided me with firsthand insight into these issues.” The third is fiscal responsibility, where she writes that “our children’s future shouldn’t be jeopardized for immediate gains.” The fourth is water, where she writes that “water is the lifeblood of our communities, and I will resist any efforts to diminish or restrict water access for the people of Arizona – especially our farmers.” The fifth is health care, where she writes that “Accessible healthcare is crucial, and individuals should not face exploitation by insurance companies or hospitals.” The final issue Peña addresses is opposing corruption, where she writes that “I stand unabashedly opposed to all forms of corruption in our government.”
According to the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, Legislative District 23 has a competitive vote spread of 16.9% between Democrats and Republicans over the past nine state elections. Out of those elections, Democrats have won all nine contests.
Peña will run in November’s General Election against Democrats Mariana Sandoval and Matias Rosales, who both emerged from the July 30 Primary Election for the Democrat Party. In July, Sandoval obtained 9,194 votes, and Rosales acquired 6,811 votes. James Holmes finished third in the primary, garnering 2,919 votes.
Both Sandoval and Rosales will face off against Peña, who will again employ the “single shot” strategy on behalf of her party in an attempt to keep the Democrat-leaning seat in Republican hands. In November 2022, Peña had more votes than either of her Democrat opponents with 12,850, compared to 10,101 for Sandoval and 8,030 for Jesus Lugo Jr.
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