Emerging Talent: Meet Aaron Marquez

Aaron Márquez of Phoenix has been elected as the new House representative for Legislative District 5. An Army veteran with experience from two deployments in Afghanistan, Márquez prioritizes education and reproductive rights as he prepares to take office. He co-founded the progressive veterans organization VetsForward.us and previously worked in veterans outreach for U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego in 2015.

Márquez has expressed a keen interest in serving on the Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee, alongside the Education Committee, valuing both the military and educational aspects of these roles.

Raised in the Valley, Márquez was elected to the Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board in 2020. His motivation to run for the state House stems from concerns over legislative control of school funding. Influenced by political figures such as former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy, he also draws inspiration from Bill Clinton’s role in establishing AmeriCorps.

Emphasizing bipartisanship, Márquez believes collaboration is essential in the Legislature. Drawing from his military background, he expressed confidence in bridging divides. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a Democrat or a Republican standing next to me; we have to find a way to bring each other home and get the mission accomplished,” he stated.