American politician
Daniel Hernández Jr. (born January 25, 1990) is an American politician and former member of the Arizona House of Representatives .[1] A member of the Arizona Democratic Party , he served alongside Rosanna Gabaldón in Legislative District 2.[1] Hernández interned for U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords and was present when she was shot during a 2011 constituent meeting . He has been credited with helping to save Giffords's life after the incident.[2]
Early life and education
Hernandez was born in 1990 to Daniel Hernandez Sr. and Consuelo Quiñones Hernandez, a working-class family in Tucson , Arizona.[3] He has two younger sisters, Consuelo and Alma Hernandez .[4]
In 2008, Hernandez volunteered for the Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign and Gabby Giffords ' re-election campaign.[5] He graduated from Sunnyside High School in 2008.[6] Hernandez earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Master of Legal Studies from the University of Arizona .[7]
Career
In 2011, while a student at the University of Arizona, Hernandez worked as an intern in the office of Gabby Giffords . During the first week of his internship, Hernandez helped organize a "Congress on your Corner" event, which was the site of the 2011 Tucson shooting . After Giffords was shot in the head, Hernandez held her up and stanched the bleeding with his hand until employees from the nearby grocery store brought him clean smocks.[5] In doing so, he is credited with saving the congresswoman's life.[2] Later that year, he was elected to the board of the Sunnyside Unified School District .[8] [9]
Arizona Legislature
In 2016, Hernandez ran for the Arizona House of Representatives . He defeated Republican incumbent J. Christopher Ackerley in the general election alongside Democratic incumbent Rosanna Gabaldón . Together, Hernandez and Gabaldon won the two seats of the Arizona House's 2nd District , with Hernandez receiving 32,651 votes. Hernandez and Gabaldon had previously defeated Aaron Baumann in the Democratic primary.[10]
He was one of three openly gay members of the Arizona State Legislature, alongside Cesar Chavez and Robert Meza [11] and is a co-founder of the LGBTQ Caucus in Arizona.[8] [12]
Hernandez endorsed a 2016 ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona.[13]
On May 20, 2021, Hernandez announced his candidacy in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona in the 6th congressional district .[14] [15] He lost to Kirsten Engel in the Democratic primary.[16]
Political positions
Hernández has described himself as "pragmatic" and has expressed willingness to collaborate with Republicans.[17]
The Arizona Sierra Club gave Hernández's voting record an A rating from 2017 to 2019 and a B rating from 2020 to 2021.[18] [19] [20] [21] [22]
Hernández is strongly supportive of Israel and has described himself as a "pro-Israel activist."[23]
Hernández has expressed support for increasing government presence at the Mexico–United States border through the use of drones , sensors , and law enforcement officers (such as those of the United States Border Patrol ).[24]
Personal life
Hernandez's maternal grandfather was a Mexican Jew . His family are members of a synagogue.[25] Hernandez is openly gay.[26]
References
^ a b "A day of drama: Here is a rundown of who won, who lost in Tuesday’s election" . Arizona Capitol Times , November 9, 2016.
^ a b "Intern's memoir recalls Giffords shooting" . CNN . February 6, 2018.
^ "Note to Self: Daniel Hernandez Jr" . CBS News . February 5, 2013.
^ "Daniel Hernandez Jr. calm and mature since he was a child" . Tucson.com . January 20, 2011.
^ a b Steinmetz, Katy (January 13, 2011). "Daniel Hernandez: The Intern Who Helped Rescue Giffords" . Time .
^ "Sunnyside alum Daniel Hernandez, Jr. to be honored by district" . Tucson KOLD . February 22, 2011.
^ "Daniel Hernandez, Jr.'s Biography" . Vote Smart . Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021 .
^ a b "Meet the Candidates: Arizona's Daniel Hernandez" . The Advocate , November 2, 2016.
^ "Election Summary Report: 111108pimaconsolidated" . Pima County. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2017 .
^ "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2016 General Election November 8, 2016" (PDF) . Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016 .
^ "After Phoenix Pride, LGBT political representation is a yearlong issue" . The State Press , April 15, 2018.
^ "In Arizona, Advocating For The LGBTQ Community Starts In Local Politics" . NPR.org . Retrieved November 27, 2017 .
^ "101GrowLights Acquires the Daily Chronic" .
^ "Former Giffords intern Daniel Hernandez announces Congressional bid" . AZFamily . Retrieved May 21, 2021 .
^ Hansen, Ronald J. "Daniel Hernandez enters growing Democratic field for Tucson-area congressional seat" . The Arizona Republic . Retrieved May 21, 2021 .
^ Price, Michelle (August 3, 2022). "Michigan GOP Rep. Meijer loses reelection after Trump vote" . The Herald. Retrieved August 3, 2022 .
^ "Political Notebook: Third Dem joins race for former Giffords seat in Congress" . Arizona Daily Star . Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ "2017 Environmental Report Card Arizona Legislature and Governor" . Sierra Club . May 30, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ "2018 Environmental Report Card Arizona Legislature and Governor" . Sierra Club . May 16, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ "Sierra Club Releases 2019 Environmental Report Card" . Sierra Club . June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ "Sierra Club Releases 2020 Environmental Report Card Actions by the 2020 Arizona Legislature and Governor Ducey Doing more harm than good" . Sierra Club . July 15, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ "Sierra Club Releases "2021 Environmental Report Card" -- Bad Session for Democracy, Water, Climate, and more..." Sierra Club . July 20, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ Kassel, Matthew (July 20, 2021). "Daniel Hernandez wants to be the next pro-Israel progressive in Congress" . Jewish Insider . Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ "Congressional District 6 Democratic candidates debate immigration, inflation and more" . Arizona PBS . Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ Oltuski, Romy. "Meet the Mexican-American Jewish Millennial Running for Office in Arizona" . InStyle . Retrieved May 31, 2021 .
^ "Steller column: 3 Hernandez siblings could reshape Tucson politics" .
External links