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Statement from Alejandra Gomez Arizona and its communities are in the fight of their lives, facing multiple existential threats and challenges, from the political turmoil threatening our Democracy to climate change worsening drought conditions in our region. Trying to raise a family is a tall order. It is even more difficult when elected officials in Congress only serve themselves and only themselves, and not their family — the family that made the phone calls, put up the yard signs, knocked on the doors, and ultimately voted them into office. Some are thrust into public service out of necessity for survival, while others choose to run for political office out of expediency and opportunity. Now, more than ever, our communities need experienced allies, staunch supporters, fearless leaders, and robust organizers who will, time and time again, come to bat for you and your family to deliver solutions. Grassroots organizing has proven to be a source of power building in Arizona. Organizations like Living United for Change in Arizona have secured major electoral victories, and policy wins for the people of Arizona, from Prop 206 to defeating Trump in 2020 to electing Governor Hobbs in 2022. However, organizations like LUCHA and many others would not exist today without the organizing prowess of Raquel Teran. Raquel organized me into the movement and pulled in many others during the fight to defeat Russell Pearce and SB1070. In that moment, we were her family - we put up the yard signs. We made the phone calls. She taught us how to organize, find our voice, and stand up for our communities. Without Raquel’s work, we would not be here today. Teran is a grassroots organizer at heart, and she has taken her passion for organizing to the state legislature serving since 2018 and now in her bid for Congress! Terán has never shied away from a fight. She spent her career organizing in vulnerable communities, advocating for affordable healthcare, better-funded schools, fighting against extremist bullies, and defending our Democracy. Congress needs more organizers walking through the halls of Congress and more Representatives with deep connections to their constituents. When Raquel Teran is elected into office, she will be the first Latina organizer to be elected In all of the history of Arizona! As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, Terán understands the daily challenges working families face and what needs to be done to secure a prosperous future. We know with Raquel Teran where she stands on the issues, and we entrust in her the responsibility to represent us! ### About Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA): Living United for Change in Arizona is a grassroots organization dedicated to building power with Arizona's working families. LUCHA fights for racial, economic, and social justice, striving to create a just and equitable society for all. Check us out on social media and our website for more information.

Tucson Sentinel: More than 30,000 DACA recipients call Arizona home, but a federal judge’s ruling last week — which determined the policy that shields them from deportation is illegal — puts their future safety in jeopardy. By Gloria Rebecca Gomez from the AZ Mirror, Posted to the Tucson Sentinel On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen sided with nine Republican-led states in an ongoing dispute against DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program first created by former President Barack Obama in 2012 via an executive order and now backed by President Joe Biden. The Biden administration attempted to resolve Hanen’s original complaint against the program — that it hadn’t undergone the legally mandated public comment period — by revamping it as an administrative rule with the required time for public input. But Hanen remained unimpressed, writing that immigration reform is under the purview of Congress, not the president. “Congress, for any number of reasons, has decided not to pass DACA-like legislation,” Hanen wrote. “The Executive Branch cannot usurp the power bestowed on Congress by the Constitution — even to fill a void.” While Arizona was among the first opponents to the DACA program, with former Attorney General Mark Brnovich joining a coalition of 11 states to challenge the Obama-era version during President Donald Trump’s presidency, current Attorney General Kris Mayes has taken a vastly different position. The Democrat, along with 22 other attorneys general, urged Hanen to preserve the program, arguing that DACA recipients are an invaluable asset for their states. And in a post on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, Mayes lamented Hanen’s decision. “There are more than 30,700 Arizonans who have directly benefited from DACA,” she wrote, on Thursday. “These protections have allowed them to build their lives here, and our state is better because of it. Attempts to abruptly end this program are misguided and just plain wrong.” For local immigrant advocacy organizations, Hanen’s ruling came as no surprise. This isn’t the first time Hanen has opposed DACA; the program has been unable to accept new applicants for two years, after an order from Hanen in 2021 effectively froze the program, allowing only renewals and new applicant submissions. Since then, as many as 44,000 more undocumented Arizonans have become eligible for the program but are unable to benefit from the work permit and safety from deportation that comes with it. Cesar Fierros, spokesman for Living United for Change in Arizona, a progressive social advocacy and immigrant rights group, said it’s time for Congress to step up. “There needs to be swift action and a unified front from the Biden administration to Democrats in Congress to deliver on the promises they’ve made on the campaign trail, and deliver immigration reform,” he said. A legislative solution is the only certain way for both DACA recipients and other undocumented people to be protected. The case against the federal policy is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and advocates are skeptical that the newly conservative-majority bench will rule in favor of the program. But unless Democrats can recapture the U.S. House of Representatives, a solution from the halls of Congress is unlikely. As many as 11 attempts to pass immigration reform have failed to move forward in the past 20 years. Fierros denounced the efforts from Republican politicians to demonize and stall immigration reform, saying the party’s position is completely at odds with public opinion. “There’s a lot of politics at play here that’s been holding up comprehensive immigration reform,” he said. “Unfortunately the GOP has weaponized this issue to rile their base up and used our immigrant communities as a scapegoat. (Wednesday’s) decision is just one example of Republicans taking another calculated step to derail DACA and a future where immigration reform becomes a reality.” As much as 74% of Americans agree that Congress should grant legal status to undocumented people brought to the country as children, and 75% support the idea of a legal pathway for all undocumented people to remain in the U.S. as long as they meet certain eligibility requirements. Fierros said that Proposition 308, which leveled the playing field for undocumented students seeking higher education in the Grand Canyon State, is a good indicator of Arizonans’ support for their undocumented neighbors. The measure was approved by a narrow margin of 51% to 48%, allowing undocumented students who graduated from an Arizona high school to pay in-state tuition and access state-funded scholarships. Immigration reform is urgently needed, Fierros said. The U.S. and Arizona reap economic benefits from an increased and stable workforce. In the Grand Canyon State, DACA recipients are an active part of the economy, contributing an estimated $93.3 million in state and local taxes and representing more than $763 million in spending power. In the end, it’s simply the right thing to do, Fierros said. “The state is stronger when we keep communities intact and don’t see families being ripped apart by bad policies,” he said. Pedro Gonzalez-Aboyte moved with his family to the U.S. when he was just 2 years old from Sinaloa, Mexico. Receiving DACA at 16 helped Gonzalez-Aboyte breathe a sigh of relief, mitigating the constant fear of deportation and allowing him to consider his future with more hope. “DACA is everything to me,” he told the Mirror. “It’s opened up a lot of opportunities for me.” “Just the fact that I was able to receive DACA gave me that confidence and energy to say ‘Hey, if I’m already here, I can do so much more,’” he added. After graduating from high school in Arizona, Gonzalez-Aboyte went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Now he connects undocumented families and youth, including other DACA recipients, to resources as a family and community liaison with Aliento, an immigrant advocacy organization. The ongoing dispute over whether or not undocumented people deserve a place in the U.S. is frustrating, especially when DACA recipients have proven themselves several times over, Gonzalez-Aboyte said. Recipients are required to renew their applications every two years, at a $495 submission cost each time. And eligible applicants must either be enrolled in school or have obtained a diploma or GED. Any felony conviction or significant misdemeanor results in a rejected application. “We’re all either going to school or working and we’re contributing to society, so why do we have to be separated?” Gonzalez-Aboyte asked. Link to Tucson Sentinel article: https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/091823_daca_challenge/daca-faces-ongoing-challenge-az-immigration-advocates-call-change/ Link to original article: https://www.azmirror.com/2023/09/15/daca-faces-ongoing-challenge-az-immigration-advocates-call-for-change/

AZ Mirror: More than 30,000 DACA recipients call Arizona home, but a federal judge’s ruling earlier this week — which determined the policy that shields them from deportation is illegal — puts their future safety in jeopardy. By Gloria Rebecca Gomez, AZ Mirror On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen sided with nine Republican-led states in an ongoing dispute against DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program first created by former President Barack Obama in 2012 via an executive order and now backed by President Joe Biden. The Biden administration attempted to resolve Hanen’s original complaint against the program — that it hadn’t undergone the legally mandated public comment period — by revamping it as an administrative rule with the required time for public input. But Hanen remained unimpressed, writing that immigration reform is under the purview of Congress, not the president. “Congress, for any number of reasons, has decided not to pass DACA-like legislation,” Hanen wrote. “The Executive Branch cannot usurp the power bestowed on Congress by the Constitution — even to fill a void.” While Arizona was among the first opponents to the DACA program, with former Attorney General Mark Brnovich joining a coalition of 11 states to challenge the Obama-era version during President Donald Trump’s presidency, current Attorney General Kris Mayes has taken a vastly different position. The Democrat, along with 22 other attorneys general, urged Hanen to preserve the program, arguing that DACA recipients are an invaluable asset for their states. And in a post on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, Mayes lamented Hanen’s decision. “There are more than 30,700 Arizonans who have directly benefited from DACA,” she wrote, on Thursday. “These protections have allowed them to build their lives here, and our state is better because of it. Attempts to abruptly end this program are misguided and just plain wrong.” For local immigrant advocacy organizations, Hanen’s ruling came as no surprise. This isn’t the first time Hanen has opposed DACA; the program has been unable to accept new applicants for two years, after an order from Hanen in 2021 effectively froze the program, allowing only renewals and new applicant submissions. Since then, as many as 44,000 more undocumented Arizonans have become eligible for the program but are unable to benefit from the work permit and safety from deportation that comes with it. Cesar Fierros, spokesman for Living United for Change in Arizona, a progressive social advocacy and immigrant rights group, said it’s time for Congress to step up. “There needs to be swift action and a unified front from the Biden administration to Democrats in Congress to deliver on the promises they’ve made on the campaign trail, and deliver immigration reform,” he said. A legislative solution is the only certain way for both DACA recipients and other undocumented people to be protected. The case against the federal policy is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and advocates are skeptical that the newly conservative-majority bench will rule in favor of the program. But unless Democrats can recapture the U.S. House of Representatives, a solution from the halls of Congress is unlikely. As many as 11 attempts to pass immigration reform have failed to move forward in the past 20 years. Fierros denounced the efforts from Republican politicians to demonize and stall immigration reform, saying the party’s position is completely at odds with public opinion. “There’s a lot of politics at play here that’s been holding up comprehensive immigration reform,” he said. “Unfortunately the GOP has weaponized this issue to rile their base up and used our immigrant communities as a scapegoat. (Wednesday’s) decision is just one example of Republicans taking another calculated step to derail DACA and a future where immigration reform becomes a reality.” As much as 74% of Americans agree that Congress should grant legal status to undocumented people brought to the country as children, and 75% support the idea of a legal pathway for all undocumented people to remain in the U.S. as long as they meet certain eligibility requirements. Fierros said that Proposition 308, which leveled the playing field for undocumented students seeking higher education in the Grand Canyon State, is a good indicator of Arizonans’ support for their undocumented neighbors. The measure was approved by a narrow margin of 51% to 48%, allowing undocumented students who graduated from an Arizona high school to pay in-state tuition and access state-funded scholarships. Immigration reform is urgently needed, Fierros said. The U.S. and Arizona reap economic benefits from an increased and stable workforce. In the Grand Canyon State, DACA recipients are an active part of the economy, contributing an estimated $93.3 million in state and local taxes and representing more than $763 million in spending power. In the end, it’s simply the right thing to do, Fierros said. “The state is stronger when we keep communities intact and don’t see families being ripped apart by bad policies,” he said. Pedro Gonzalez-Aboyte moved with his family to the U.S. when he was just 2 years old from Sinaloa, Mexico. Receiving DACA at 16 helped Gonzalez-Aboyte breathe a sigh of relief, mitigating the constant fear of deportation and allowing him to consider his future with more hope. “DACA is everything to me,” he told the Mirror. “It’s opened up a lot of opportunities for me.” “Just the fact that I was able to receive DACA gave me that confidence and energy to say ‘Hey, if I’m already here, I can do so much more,’” he added. After graduating from high school in Arizona, Gonzalez-Aboyte went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Now he connects undocumented families and youth, including other DACA recipients, to resources as a family and community liaison with Aliento, an immigrant advocacy organization. The ongoing dispute over whether or not undocumented people deserve a place in the U.S. is frustrating, especially when DACA recipients have proven themselves several times over, Gonzalez-Aboyte said. Recipients are required to renew their applications every two years, at a $495 submission cost each time. And eligible applicants must either be enrolled in school or have obtained a diploma or GED. Any felony conviction or significant misdemeanor results in a rejected application. “We’re all either going to school or working and we’re contributing to society, so why do we have to be separated?” Gonzalez-Aboyte asked. Link to original article: https://www.azmirror.com/2023/09/15/daca-faces-ongoing-challenge-az-immigration-advocates-call-for-change/

A federal judge dismantled new state laws on Thursday that required voters to prove their citizenship, agreeing in her ruling to allow rights groups to probe legislative leaders’ intentions in creating the laws. By Ray Stern Former Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed the two laws, which ban certain people from voting by mail or in state elections, last year after Republicans passed them on party lines despite a warning from staff that the provisions in one of them were unconstitutional. The U.S. Department of Justice and seven different civil rights groups, including the Arizona-based Mi Familia Vota and Living United for Change in Arizona, sued the state over the laws in what later became a consolidated lawsuit. Thursday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton didn’t end the legal action but made it clear that federal laws, not state, govern the issue of proof-of-citizenship for voters. “This is an enormous victory for Arizona voters,” said Danielle Lang, an attorney for one of the rights groups that sued, the Washington, D.C.-based Campaign Legal Center. “These laws … smack of discriminatory intent against voters who have been historically disenfranchised in Arizona.” After November’s election, Democrats Kris Mayes and Adrian Fontes now inhabit the offices of the state attorney general and secretary of state, resulting in Republican Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma needing to intervene in defense of the Republican-passed laws. But Bolton’s ruling means that if Petersen and Toma want to keep fighting for the laws, they will have to submit to depositions and turn over any communication that might explain how the laws came about. “We don’t know what there is to see,” Lang said of the emails and other communications from the leaders that could be uncovered. Some provisions in the law, such as one that requires voters to reveal their birthplace, seem to have “no other purpose than to discriminate,” Lang said. Lawmakers need to be “open and honest” about their reasons for passing the law, she added. Petersen and Toma declined comment, saying they were still reviewing the ruling. Andrew Wilder, spokesman in the state House for the majority, said leaders were “evaluating next steps.” Provisions canceled, for now Twenty years ago, Arizona voters passed a ballot measure overwhelmingly that tightens proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting, but the U.S. Supreme Court shot it down in 2013, saying it ran afoul of the National Voter Registration Act. Republican lawmakers, including some concerned over debunked reports of large numbers of noncitizens voting in the 2016 and 2020 elections, want to see that ruling reversed. After being told by a staffer that House Bill 2492 was likely not constitutional, Rep. Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert, chair of the House Rules Committee, said, “This is a fight worth having.” Only citizens are allowed to vote, but federal voting forms allow voters to simply check a box affirming they are citizens instead of proving their status with documentation. House Bill 2492 changed the criteria for proper identification when voting or registering to vote, banning people who could not produce official proof of citizenship, like a passport or post-1996 driver’s license, from voting or registering to vote. It also required the state Attorney General’s Office to investigate all cases in which noncitizens attempted to vote or register. House Bill 2243 required county elections officials to cancel the registration of any voter in the rolls who didn’t have proof of citizenship or had moved or obtained a driver’s license in a different state. Both bills were sponsored by now-Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, chair of the far-right Arizona Freedom Caucus. Voting activists warned at the time the laws would negatively affect the state's most marginalized voters, including people of color and the unhoused. Bolton’s ruling pushes aside the law’s new requirements, telling Arizona officials — among other things — exactly which documents satisfy voter identification requirements. “Any Tribal identification document” works, and so does “written confirmation signed by a registrant that they qualify to register” if they don’t live in a fixed or permanent structure. The ruling clarifies that state law doesn’t require tribal members or any other Arizona resident to have a standard street address for their home in order to vote, and that state officials can’t reject a voter registration solely because the voter didn’t check the box affirming citizenship, as long as the person is otherwise qualified to vote. The provision that banned voting by mail for voters who couldn’t prove citizenship “frustrates the purpose” of the National Voting Rights Act of 1993, Bolton said, noting that the act forbids “discriminatory and unfair registration laws and procedures.” The ruling affirms the consent decree imposed on Arizona after the 2013 Supreme Court ruling that requires the state to “treat Federal and State Form users the same when registering applicants for federal elections.” Continued court fight possible Lang said she looks forward to continuing the fight to get court orders denying Arizona the ability to enforce the two laws. The case is set for trial starting Nov. 6. Hoffman, in a statement to The Republic, called Bolton’s ruling “laughable, but sadly not surprising and why so many have lost trust in our judiciary.” "All Arizona wants to do is ensure that only U.S. citizens can vote,” he said. He accused Bolton of a “total abandonment of sound logic and reasoning” in her conclusion that the previous consent decree should bind all legislatures “in perpetuity,” deeming the move “judicial activism at its worst.” “I look forward to these laws making their way to the U.S. Supreme Court and being ruled constitutional,” Hoffman said. Link to original article: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/09/15/doug-ducey-signed-laws-that-ban-certain-people-from-voting-by-mail-or-in-state-elections/70857991007/

Thousands in AZ can't apply for DACA. By Alexis Dominguez PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - More than a decade after DACA protections for undocumented youth were signed into law, it’s still facing legal challenges. This week, a judge again ruled the program “illegal,” and it’s likely heading for the Supreme Court. More than 23,000 DACA recipients in Arizona, brought into the states as kids, are still facing that legal limbo for their future. However, for now, things will stay mostly unchanged. The most affected will be the more than 12,000 immigrants in Arizona who qualify for the program but can’t apply due to the decision. “It’s almost like your entire life comes in a picture in that moment,” said Abril Gallardo, a DACA recipient who also works for the organization Living United for Change in Arizona, also known as LUCHA. For years DACA recipients and those who are eligible for the program have followed the news closely. “The DACA program has been in litigation since 2017, so it’s been years of a constant back and forth,” said Reyna Montoya, a DACA recipient and the Founder and CEO of Aliento. Wednesday, a judge refrained from ordering officials to terminate deportation protections and work permits, but he shut the door on thousands of immigrants in Arizona who qualify for the program. “We are having to tell parents, I’m sorry you can’t apply anymore; the program is rescinded. And unfortunately also for those renewing their process, we have to tell them do it as fast you can because you never know what can happen to it,” Gallardo said. Both LUCHA and Aliento are organizations in the Valley that help students and young people apply for protection from the immigration policy. “It’s really hard because many of them had that hope that the program could actually re-open, and some of them have just become numb because I know nothing is going to happen,” Montoya said. Advocates say people are living in fear without any coverage, especially in a state where the undocumented population can’t get a driver’s license. “I remember stopping on stop lights and counting like 5 Mississippi’s out loud so they wouldn’t stop me for non-full stop,” Montoya said. With a looming presidential election, they feel the uncertainty will only continue. “More than ever, it is clear that we need an actually permanent solution,” Gallardo said. “As we can all see, it can be chipped away, and it’s been chipped away.” Montoya echoed those sentiments, adding the stress of being in limbo has many feeling there is no end in sight. “It’s exhausting to constantly know that you can be planning for your future and everything can be taken away in the blink of an eye.” The Biden administration is expected to appeal this latest federal court ruling, meaning the case is likely to reach the Supreme Court. Link to original article: https://www.azfamily.com/2023/09/14/arizonans-react-judge-ruling-daca-program-illegal/

Living United for Change in Arizona Call on President Joe Biden & Congress to Enact Permanent Protections for Undocumented Communities & Their Families! PHOENIX – Today, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas Judge Andrew Hanen ruled on the legality of the 2022 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) rule. His decision struck down the DACA program for the second time but held back from ordering the deportation of the nearly 600,000 who remain in the country as Dreamers. For now, the DACA program remains in limbo; current DACA Recipients will remain protected, and renewals can continue. "The Defendants [the US] may continue to administer the program [DACA] as to those individuals [DACA recipients], and that administration may include processing and granting DACA renewal applications for those individuals." Judge Hanen's Supplemental Order of Injunction. For LUCHA, this is a clear warning for Congress and the Biden Administration to act swiftly to pass permanent protections for DACA recipients and their families. We have known for years that DACA is merely a band-aid, a temporary solution, and our country is well overdue for an immigration overhaul that provides permanent relief for the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers and the millions of undocumented families. The lives of over 600K DACA recipients are on the line, and while DACA is not enough, ending this program would have a devastating impact on millions of people, including Dreamers, DACA-eligible youth, our families, friends, our communities and our country as a whole. “Republicans have waged a war of hate in Congress and the Courts to undermine efforts to pass immigration reform and end the DACA program. Today's ruling is another calculated decision by a Republican-appointed judge with a lifetime appointment. This decision kicks the can down the road and offers more uncertainty for hundreds of thousands of program recipients. The livelihoods of over 600,000 DACA recipients are on the line unless we see unified action from the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress. We need protections and reforms codified into law; nothing short of congressional action to provide access to a path to citizenship will alleviate the daily fears many Undocumented youth and their families have about their futures in the United States,” said Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director for Living United for Change in Arizona. We know this fight will ultimately head to a Supreme Court led by a right-wing majority unless swift action is taken. We will continue fighting for the millions of undocumented immigrants. Ending DACA would mean thousands of DACA recipients would lose protection and be forcibly separated from their communities and loved ones. DACA’s ending would also have negative implications for the U.S. economy and workforce. No doubt, Republican-controlled states would seize this moment to target undocumented immigrants and DACA recipients with scare tactics and threats of deportation. That is why LUCHA and partners will continue to fight for the day that Dreamers and their families will not live in a state of fear and their lives defined by legal unpredictability and limbo. ### About Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA): Living United for Change in Arizona is a grassroots organization dedicated to building power with Arizona's working families. LUCHA fights for racial, economic, and social justice, striving to create a just and equitable society for all. Check us out on social media and our website for more information.

State employees may now be eligible for expanded paid parental leave. By: 13 News Staff, KOLD TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - State employees may now be eligible for expanded paid parental leave. Governor Hobbs’ Department of Administration announced the program for state employees to receive up to 12 weeks of paid leave following the birth of a child, or the new placement of a foster or adoptive child in the home occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2023. The leave may be taken within 12 months of the birth or placement of a child. “This is amazing news from a Governor who has admirably fought for our families from day one,” said Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of Living United for Change in Arizona. “Since the passage of Prop. 206 in 2016, LUCHA has advocated for paid leave for all workers to take care of their families and their loved ones, and this is a monumental step in the right direction for state employees. We’re very happy on this day to stand by the Governor in the implementation of this policy and other People First priorities, and we will continue onward advocating for all Arizonans to have access to PFML.” The State is increasing from 40 to 480 hours the maximum amount of earned sick leave hours an employee may use per calendar year to care for a sick spouse, dependent child or parent. So, employees may now use more of their regularly accrued sick leave to care for loved ones. For cases where both spouses are state employees, each spouse may use a maximum of 12 workweeks of Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Leave for the birth and care of a newborn child, placement of a child for adoption or foster care, or to care for a parent who has a serious health condition. Each spouse can use up to 26 work weeks of leave to care for an eligible military service member with a serious injury or illness. Link to Original Article: https://www.kold.com/2023/09/07/hobbs-administration-approves-expanded-paid-parental-leave/

Living United for Change in Arizona Celebrates Gov. Hobbs’ Announcement to Support Arizona’s Working Families and Create an Equitable and Competitive Workplace PHOENIX - Today, Gov. Hobbs’ Department of Administration announced its official Paid Parental Leave Pilot Program for state employees. This program is the first of its kind for state employees in Arizona, and will provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave to eligible employees following the birth of a child, or the new placement of a foster or adoptive child in the home occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2023. “This is amazing news from a Governor who has admirably fought for our families from day one," said Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of Living United for Change in Arizona. “Since the passage of Prop. 206 in 2016, LUCHA has advocated for paid leave for all workers to take care of their families and their loved ones, and this is a monumental step in the right direction for state employees. We're very happy on this day to stand by the Governor in the implementation of this policy and other People First priorities, and we will continue onward advocating for all Arizonans to have access to PFML.” For years, LUCHA has advocated for our Republican-controlled State Legislature to bring Paid Family Leave to Arizona. Eighty percent of workers in Arizona do not have access to Paid Leave, with communities of color disproportionately impacted. Year after year, LUCHA works tirelessly with Democratic lawmakers to introduce Paid Leave for All legislation (HB2130/SB1568) and brings community members to the Capitol to share their real-life stories of having to choose between taking the leave they need or keeping their job. Despite the pressing need for a statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave program for all workers, these bills have never received even a hearing. “Latinx families make up more than a third of state and local government workforces and are disproportionately impacted by lack of access to paid leave,” Gomez continued. “The Hobbs administration is setting a model standard for all of the state’s employers by prioritizing policies that empower our workforces. Paid Family Leave provides workers with more flexibility and offers employers significant benefits such as increased retention rates. We’re looking forward to working with the Hobbs administration to make Paid Family Leave accessible for Arizona’s entire workforce.” For more information on this, you can go to: https://hr.az.gov/family-leave-expansion ###

Change Research conducted a survey of likely voters in Tucson, AZ, August 16-20, 2023. A total of 538 likely November general election voters were interviewed online, and the survey has a modeled margin of error of 4.4 percentage points. Post-stratification weighting was performed on age, race/ethnicity, sex, education, ZIP code, and 2020 presidential vote. Weighting parameters were based on voter file data. TUCSON - Following the Tucson Primary election victory of Mayor Regina Romero, Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) contracted Change Research - a reputable polling firm, to conduct a post-primary election poll for the mayoral race leading up to the November general election. We are thrilled to report the findings show that endorsed candidate Mayor Regina Romero has a whopping 52% support, a 30-point lead over her closest opponent (Janet Wittenbraker’s 22%). Additionally, among most likely Tucson voters, Mayor Romero holds higher favorable numbers than some prominent elected officials, including President Joe Biden. Mayor Romero’s outstanding lead is a testament to her leadership to deliver significant reform, relief, and victories for the city of Tucson and its residents. Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of Living United for Change in Arizona, said, “Mayor Romero’s unwavering commitment to building a climate-resilient city and championing a more equitable public transit system have resonated strongly with the people of Tucson.” Her visionary approach to sustainability and resilience has positioned Tucson as a leading city in tackling the urgent challenges posed by the climate crisis. Alejandra Gomez continued, “She champions clean energy initiatives, sustainable infrastructure, and smart urban planning, setting a strong foundation for a greener future and sustainable economic growth for the city.” KEY FINDINGS In the Race for Mayor, incumbent Regina Romero has a commanding lead over her opponents: 52% compared to Janet Wittenbraker’s 22%, Ed Ackerley’s 10%, and Arthur Kerchen’s 3%. Few (13%) are undecided. Romero has much higher name recognition than the other candidates (95% name recognition) and is liked (+8 net favorable). All other candidates have less than 50% name recognition. Romero maintains a large lead after the candidates’ biographical statements: 48% to Wittenbraker’s 23%, Ackerley’s 15%, and Kerschen’s 5%. 9% are still undecided. Romero still holds a lead with every gender, age, racial, and educational attainment group. She holds a small lead with independent voters, too. APPENDIX: DEMOGRAPHICS 1. Are you male or female? 45% Male 55 Female 2. Age 11% 18 to 34 15 35 to 49 31 50 to 64 43 65+ 3. What is your race? 69% White / Caucasian 24 Hispanic or Latino/a 2 Black or African American 1 Asian / Pacific Islander 0 American Indian or Alaska Native 3 Other 4. What is the highest level of education you have completed? 9% High school diploma or less 24 Some college, but no degree 17 Associate’s degree, or two-year college degree 23 Bachelor’s degree, or four-year college degree 26 Graduate degree 5. Are you registered to vote in Tucson? 100% Yes 0% No 0% Not sure 6. Party Identification 35% Strong Democrats 14 Weak Democrats 8 Independent lean Democrats 13 Pure independents 8 Independent lean Republicans 7 Weak Republicans 16 Strong Republicans 49% Base Democrats 29 Independents + Leaners 22 Base Republicans 57% Democrats 13 Pure independents 30 Republicans 7. How did you vote in the 2020 election for President, or for some reason were you unable to vote? 63% Joe Biden, the Democrat 30 Donald Trump, the Republican 1 Jo Jorgensen, the Libertarian 1Notregistered/Tooyoung/Ineligible 6Didnotvote APPENDIX: METHODOLOGY Change Research surveyed 538 likely general election voters in Tucson, AZ, August 16-20, 2023. We used targeted advertisements on Facebook/Instagram to recruit respondents. Regardless of which of these sources a respondent came from, they were directed to a survey hosted on SurveyMonkey’s website. Ads placed on social media targeted all adults living in Tucson, AZ. Those who indicated that they were not registered to vote in Tucson were terminated. As the survey fielded, Change Research used dynamic online sampling: adjusting ad budgets, lowering budgets for ads targeting groups that were overrepresented and raising budgets for ads targeting groups that were underrepresented, so that the final sample was roughly representative of the population across different groups. The survey was conducted in English. The survey was conducted on behalf of LUCHA and conducted online by Change Research. Post-stratification was performed on age, sex, education, race/ethnicity, ZIP code, and 2020 presidential vote. Weighting parameters were based on the electorate from the 2019 mayoral election, obtained from the voter file. That is, if a given age bracket or gender group represented x% of the 2019 electorate, then that same group would be weighted to x% in this survey. 2020 presidential results were based on publicly available data. The modeled margin of error* for this survey is 4.4%, which uses effective sample sizes** that adjust for the design effect of weighting. * We adopt The Pew Research Center's convention for the term "modeled margin of error"(1) (mMOE) to indicate that our surveys are not simple random samples in the pure sense, similar to any survey that has either non-response bias or for which the general population was not invited at random. A common, if imperfect, convention for reporting survey results is to use a single, survey-level mMOE based on a normal approximation. This is a poor approximation for proportion estimates close to 0 or 1. However, it is a useful communication tool in many settings and is reasonable in places where the proportion of interest is close to 50%. We report this normal approximation for our surveys assuming a proportion estimate of 50%. ** The effective sample size adjusts for the weighting applied to respondents, and is calculated using Kish's approximation (2). (1) https://www.pewresearch.org/methods/2018/01/26/for-weighting-online-opt-in-samples-what-matters-most/ (2) Kish, Leslie. Survey Sampling, 1965. For more information, contact Ben Sullivan at bensullivan@changeresearch.com. REPORTED QUESTIONS There is a local election on November 7, for mayor and other offices. How motivated are you to vote in the November 7 election on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means you are not motivated at all and 10 means you are extremely motivated? [0 - Not motivated at all | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 - Extremely motivated] What are the most important issues influencing how you vote? Please choose up to THREE. [RANDOMIZE] ● Jobs and the economy ● Higher education ● K-12 education ● Taxes ● Illegal immigration ● Foreign policy ● Reproductive rights ● Ending abortion ● Gun rights ● Gun control ● Civil rights ● Roads and infrastructure ● Drug and opioid abuse ● Ending corruption ● Environmental issues ● Health care ● Balancing the budget ● Public transportation ● Crime and public safety ● Cost of housing ● Homelessness ● None of these How favorable are your feelings about each of the following public officials and organizations? If you haven’t heard of them, please indicate it. [Very favorable | Somewhat favorable | Neutral | Somewhat unfavorable | Very unfavorable | Never heard of them] [RANDOMIZE] ● Regina Romero ● Janet Wittenbraker ● Ed Ackerley ● Arthur Kerschen If the election for the mayor were held today, and the candidates were the following, who would you vote for? [RANDOMIZE] ● Regina Romero, Democrat ● Janet Wittenbraker, Republican ● Ed Ackerley, Independent ● Arthur Kerschen, Libertarian ● Not sure [IF NOT SURE] If you had to choose, who would you vote for? [RANDOMIZE] ● Regina Romero, Democrat ● Janet Wittenbraker, Republican ● Ed Ackerley, Independent ● Arthur Kerschen, Libertarian ● Not sure ● Would not vote Here is some more information about possible candidates for Mayor. How persuasive is each statement as a reason to support that candidate? [RANDOMIZE] [Very persuasive | Somewhat persuasive | Not too persuasive | Not at all persuasive] Regina Romero is currently serving as the first woman and first Latina Mayor of Tucson. Raised by immigrant farmworkers in Somerton, Arizona, Regina broke barriers early on as the first member of her family to vote and the first to graduate from college. Prior to being elected Mayor, Regina served as Ward 1 City Council Member from 2007-2019. During her first term, Regina has made significant accomplishments in public safety and has secured more than $6 million in federal grants. She has also made great strides in rental assistance and affordable housing, helping everyday Tucsonans have the chance to live comfortably in this wonderful city. In a second term, Mayor Romero will implement her Climate Action Plan to fight against climate change and will continue to work to make housing more affordable. She will also invest in the city’s infrastructure and support local small businesses. Janet Wittenbraker has been a devoted Tucsonan for decades. Over the course of her multifaceted career, she has developed skills in numerous industries, including aerospace defense, government, healthcare, higher education, and commercial businesses. She will take this vast breadth of knowledge and use it to solve problems for the people of Tucson. As mayor, Janet will prioritize properly staffing and funding Tucson's first responders to ensure the safety of our citizens. She will also rebuild our community through fiscal responsibility and by allocating transportation funds where they are most needed. Janet will focus on pressing issues, like reducing crime and homeless encampments. Janet knows that she will be serving the people and will actively seek the ideas and input of Tucson's constituents to address pressing issues. As Mayor, Janet will be a voice for all Tucsonans and work tirelessly to create a more prosperous, safer, and inclusive city. Ed Ackerley grew up right here in Tucson. He has dedicated his life to his family, serving a key role at his family’s company, Ackerley Advertising, teaching at the University of Arizona and as a passionate Tucsonan serving with countless local nonprofit organizations. Ed has always known that he has wanted to make a difference in his community. He is very active in the American Advertising Federation Tucson and the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. As mayor, Ed will use his experience in education to improve our K-12 schools, with a goal of getting 70% of students to score at or above grade level in reading and math. He also plans to turn abandoned buildings into homeless transition centers, taking an empathetic approach to clearing out encampments and helping our most vulnerable citizens reenter society. Ed hopes to have the opportunity to improve the city he has called home his whole life. Adam Kerschen is a lab specialist at Pima Community College and has lived in Tucson for more than 30 years. He’s running for mayor to minimize the power of government in the city of Tucson and to cut spending by the city government and minimize intrusion in business. He believes the city shouldn’t put any money into transit, and as mayor, he would move to privatize it. One of his top priorities includes keeping the city streets clean and modern. Part of his plan to clean up the streets involves enforcing existing laws to remove homeless encampments from Tucson streets. Now that you've read some more, if the general election for the mayor were held today and the candidates were the following, who would you vote for? [RANDOMIZE] ● Regina Romero, Democrat ● Janet Wittenbraker, Republican ● Ed Ackerley, Independent ● Arthur Kerschen, Libertarian ● Not sure [IF NOT SURE] If you had to choose, who would you vote for? [RANDOMIZE] ● Regina Romero, Democrat ● Janet Wittenbraker, Republican ● Ed Ackerley, Independent ● Arthur Kerschen, Libertarian ● Not sure ● Would not vote

Contact: press@luchaaz.org TUCSON - Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) proudly announces the election victories of Mayor Regina Romero and Councilwoman Lane Santa Cruz in Last night's Tucson municipal primary election. The election of the pair of community-centered advocates marks a significant milestone in efforts to advance progressive leadership and champion the priorities of working families and marginalized neighborhoods. For years, Tucson has served as a model of progressive policy and co-governance, and it is becoming more evident that the road to the President’s 270 electoral votes will run right through Tucson, Arizona, as a battleground city. Mayor Regina Romero's Primary Election Victory: Living United for Change in Arizona is thrilled to celebrate yesterday’s victory of Mayor Regina Romero in the municipal primary. Her exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to building a climate-resilient city and championing a more equitable public transit system have resonated strongly with the people of Tucson. Mayor Romero’s visionary approach to sustainability and resilience has positioned Tucson as a leading city in tackling the urgent challenges posed by the climate crisis. Her dedication to clean energy initiatives, sustainable infrastructure, and smart urban planning has set a strong foundation for a greener future and sustainable economic growth for the city. In addition to her focus on climate action, Mayor Romero spearheaded the creation of an equitable public transit system, addressing barriers and ensuring that every individual, regardless of their socio-economic background, has access to reliable and affordable transportation. Mayor Romero’s commitment fosters a more inclusive and connected community, providing access to education, employment, healthcare, and essential services for all Tucsonans. Councilwoman Lane Santa Cruz's Victory: LUCHA is also ecstatic to celebrate the tough election victory of Councilwoman Lane Santa Cruz. Her dedication to social, racial, and economic justice and her commitment to empowering communities have made her an exemplary leader for progressive values in local governance. We look forward to supporting the historic work of Santa Cruz and her office in Ward 1 for years to come! LUCHA knocked on tens of thousands of doors, talking to tens of thousands of voters through door knocking, mailers, and phone banking to help elect Mayor Romero and Councilwoman Santa Cruz. “We are so proud to have supported Regina in this race and in her previous successful run for Mayor,” said Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of Living United for Change in Arizona Gomez continued, "Mayor Regina Romero and Councilwoman Lane Santa Cruz represent the progressive future that Living United for Change in Arizona strives to achieve for the entire state of Arizona. Their victories reflect the collective efforts of passionate organizers, volunteers, community leaders, and voters who came together to shape the city's political landscape and ensure that it remains in the hands of leaders who prioritize the needs and aspirations of working families and marginalized communities." ### About Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA): Living United for Change in Arizona is a grassroots organization dedicated to building power with Arizona's working families. LUCHA fights for racial, economic, and social justice, striving to create a just and equitable society for all. Check us out on social media and our website for more information.

On Behalf Of LUCHA Members, Over 100,000 dead Americans, over 30 million Americans are unemployed, and we have nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd, police brutality, and systemic racism. In Tucson, many small businesses, and many Tucsonans are struggling to stay above water. Now more than ever before we are in need of leadership that is attuned to the concerns and needs of our communities. Our Democracy is in chaos, and the best way to restore faith is through co-governance. Cooperation between the community and our elected leaders will help bring the people who are closest to the problem to the decision-making table to find an equitable solution. Far too often, those making decisions on behalf of impacted populations come from special interest groups with no connection to the community. LUCHA’s vision for true Co-Governance will allow us to unlock the potential of our community by bringing new voices to the table, experts in their own right, committed to the work of creating new systems of safety and security that will allow all of us to thrive. Restoring trust in our government should be a goal that our elected officials strive for. Faith in government is at an all-time low due to politicians that benefit from a movement to sow distrust in our institutions for political gain. At the same time, many have simply forgotten who helped elect them in the first place. As a result, constituents do not trust politicians to solve many of the pressing issues affecting society. From the streets of Tucson, 4th Avenue Jail in Phoenix, and the 1600 block of Washington, D.C., millions of our fellow Americans are putting their lives on the line to demand change. Luckily, organizations like LUCHA and our partners have already been investing for the past decade in a new model of community-driven leadership, policymaking, and electing candidates who are most impacted by the issues they work on. In Tucson, Mayor Regina Romero and Councilwoman Lane Santa Cruz are shining examples of what community-driven leadership can mean for constituents when major policy decisions are on the table. We saw this in action just two weeks ago. COVID-19 has been decimating city budgets across the country, and Tucson is no different. That’s why a $96m Federal CARES Act appropriation is so key to not only shoring up the City’s finances but ensuring that we are taking care of our most vulnerable populations first. While some on the Council believed the funds should be equally distributed across the City’s Wards, regardless of need, Councilwoman Santa Cruz stepped up and put forward a community-driven plan that will ensure these funds are distributed equitably to the community. “We need to continue to put people first. We need to center racial equity. We need to invest in community infrastructure. We need to build an equitable economy and we need to protect and expand community voice and power,” Santa Cruz said. This is leadership LUCHA and its members can rally behind, and we encourage the Councilmembers who opposed this plan to reconsider their priorities, and for their constituents to take note of who puts people first moving forward. What our communities need during this pandemic and economic turmoil is long term investment in black and brown communities, eviction prevention, utility support, financial support for black and brown business owners, and support for nonprofits working directly in struggling communities. If we are truly Tucson Strong put aside the differences and support an equitable framework for the city of Tucson.

By Randy Perez, Democracy Director Published: June 30th 2020 It’s finally here! Our team and our members have been waiting for this moment for a while, and today, LUCHA is proud to announce our first round of endorsements for the August 4th, 2020 Primary Election. Before we share with you our candidates, I wanted to talk a little bit about our process and why these endorsements are so important to us, the community we serve, and to the vision of co-governance we share with these candidates. LUCHA has never done a large endorsement process. Over the last decade, our organization has built power by, for, and with the most impacted members of our community. Our goal has always been and will remain the same-to radically transform the systems that define our society, from white supremacy, capitalism, patriarchy, and more, into systems that actually benefit those who have been oppressed for far too long. It is not enough for our people to simply survive, they must be able to thrive. Government agencies and politicians have never been friends to our people. From Joe Arpaio to Jan Brewer to Russell Pearce, politicians have sold us out for political gain time and time again. It is no wonder that our people do not trust government institutions, and as evidenced by the failed COVID-19 response by Governor Ducey, his allies, and President Trump, this is for good reason. Yet, glimmers of hope have emerged in the decade since SB1070. Over the last 10 years, as we’ve knocked on millions of doors, collected hundreds of thousands of voter registrations, power dynamics have begun to change. More people of color are running for and winning elections than ever. We passed Proposition 206 against all the odds, raised the wage for hundreds of thousands of Arizona families, and then worked diligently with partners for three years to beat back every attack on its implementation. When Governor Ducey opened his State of the State this year by promising a hateful, unnecessary, and divisive sanctuary city ban, we successfully beat back the threat before it could hurt our community. That’s power, and as we inch closer to governing power in 2021, we’re proud to be committed to co-governing with elected officials who truly represent us, the people. All of the candidates you see on this list have gone through a rigorous endorsement process, driven by our members. They answered difficult questions on each of the four LUCHA Pillars: Economic Justice Fighting White Supremacy Mass Liberation Democracy Our Endorsement Committee is made up of impacted people from across Arizona. Students worried about mental health support and the skyrocketing cost of higher education. A Doctor concerned about access to reproductive care and racial disparities in healthcare. A working mom who wants to know why we’re only fighting for a $15 minimum wage when it should be $25. And most of all, our Endorsement Committee is made up of leaders who are committed to a more just and equitable future for themselves and their families. We couldn’t do this work without them, and we are all so grateful. With that, we present the first round of LUCHA Blue Endorsements for the August 4th, 2020 Primary Election. More endorsements will be announced in August/September 2020 for the November General Election. Incumbents State Representative Raquel Teran Legislative District 30 House Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez District 4 State Representative Reginald Bolding Legislative District 27 State Representative Diego Rodriguez Legislative District 27 State Representative Athena Salman Legislative District 26 State Representative Andres Cano Legislative District 3 State Senator Juan Mendez Legislative District 26 State Senator Martin Quezada Legislative District 29 State Representative Domingo DeGrazia Legislative District 10 Candidates Melody Hernandez: Arizona House of Representatives District 26 JoAnna Mendoza: Arizona State Senate District 11 Gabriella Cazares-Kelly: Pima County Recorder Adelita Grijalva: Pima County Supervisor District 5 Will Knight: Maricopa County Attorney (Endorsed by Mass Liberation Project AZ) Ballot Initiatives Healthcare Rising Arizona Invest in Ed