Former Lawmaker Daniel Hernandez Steps Up for Grijalva’s Vacant Congressional Seat

By Staff Reporter |

Former state representative Daniel Hernandez Jr. has officially declared his candidacy for the open seat previously held by Congressman Raúl Grijalva. In a campaign launch video, Hernandez emphasized his intent to mount a vigorous defense against policies from the Trump administration, particularly those affecting healthcare and social security.

“America is in trouble,” Hernandez stated. “I’m running for Congress because we need leaders who will stand up for working families, veterans, and seniors.” His focus includes opposing Republican-led initiatives related to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, voting rights, and reproductive health.

Hernandez previously ran for Congress in 2022 but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Kirsten Engel, who ultimately lost to Republican incumbent Juan Ciscomani. Following this setback, he took on the role of Government Affairs Director at Stand for Children Arizona, a statewide advocacy group aiming to improve educational equity.

Stand for Children claims credit for influencing a $1 billion increase in education funding in Arizona after a court overturned Proposition 208. The organization highlighted its efforts in building bipartisan coalitions to advocate for educational funding among lawmakers and education leaders.

In addition to funding initiatives, Stand for Children successfully opposed HCR 2001, a bill aimed at banning diversity and inclusion statements in schools. Their current advocacy includes various reforms, ranging from lifting restrictions on educational content to enhancing early literacy programs.

Hernandez first gained national attention in 2011 when he provided first aid to then-Congresswoman Gabby Giffords during an assassination attempt. Shortly after, he was elected to the Sunnyside Unified School District governing board, eventually becoming a member of the Arizona House and co-founding the LGBTQ Caucus.

His background also includes roles at Planned Parenthood’s Latino outreach and as the state director for Everytown for Gun Safety. The primary election for Grijalva’s seat is set for July 15, with the general election following on September 23.

In total, 20 candidates have expressed interest in the race, including nine from each major party, one Libertarian, and one from the Green Party.