'Empowering our people': How Arizona's only nonbinary legislator fights for all communities

Candidate website

Supports fair wages, affordable housing, and the right to unionize, advocating for economic policies that benefit marginalized communities.

Supports safeguarding employees who raise concerns during public health emergencies.

Believes in protecting workers from discrimination and retaliation when they report workplace health or safety violations. Supports safeguarding employees who raise concerns during public health emergencies.

As a state representative, sponsored House Bill (HB) 2775, which  protects workers from discrimination and retaliation when they report workplace health or safety violations.

- Supports fair wages, affordable housing, and the right to unionize, advocating for economic policies that benefit marginalized communities.
- Supports safeguarding employees who raise concerns during public health emergencies.
- As a state representative, sponsored House Bill (HB) 2775, which  protects workers from discrimination and retaliation when they report workplace health or safety violations.

Economy

As of September 17, 2024, Lorena Austin’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Ballotpedia

Believes the state should not dictate personal reproductive health choices. Supports the legalization of abortion and access to contraception in Arizona.

Supports the legalization of abortion and access to contraception in Arizona.

Supports guaranteed paid family leave for workers.

The candidate's website says, "This bill stipulates that any insurance policy that includes prescription drug coverage must cover contraceptive drugs or devices approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration without imposing any cost-sharing requirements."

As a state representative, sponsored HB 2841, which "stipulates that any insurance policy that includes prescription drug coverage must cover contraceptive drugs or devices approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration without imposing any cost-sharing requirements."

Believes in ensuring abortion access and expanding public health initiatives. As a State House Representative, advocated for affordable healthcare and comprehensive COVID-19 response.

As a state representative, advocated for affordable healthcare and comprehensive COVID-19 response.

- Supports the legalization of abortion and access to contraception in Arizona.
- Supports guaranteed paid family leave for workers.
- As a state representative, sponsored HB 2841, which "stipulates that any insurance policy that includes prescription drug coverage must cover contraceptive drugs or devices approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration without imposing any cost-sharing requirements."
- As a state representative, advocated for affordable healthcare and comprehensive COVID-19 response.

Healthcare

Believes Arizona must prioritize investment in public schools to address chronic underfunding and low teacher salaries. Opposes redirecting public funds to private schools, stating it exacerbates the crisis due to lack of accountability.

Believes Arizona must prioritize investment in public schools to address chronic underfunding and low teacher salaries.

Supports affordable higher education to ensure a qualified workforce and reduce student loan debt. As a House Representative, allocated $40 million for the Arizona Promise Program to cover tuition costs for Arizona residents at public universities.

Supports affordable higher education to ensure a qualified workforce and reduce student loan debt.

Opposes redirecting public funds to private schools, stating it exacerbates the crisis due to lack of accountability.

As a state representative, allocated $40 million for the Arizona Promise Program to cover tuition costs for Arizona residents at public universities.

- Believes Arizona must prioritize investment in public schools to address chronic underfunding and low teacher salaries.
- Supports affordable higher education to ensure a qualified workforce and reduce student loan debt.
- Opposes redirecting public funds to private schools, stating it exacerbates the crisis due to lack of accountability.
- As a state representative, allocated $40 million for the Arizona Promise Program to cover tuition costs for Arizona residents at public universities.

Education

Believes securing access to clean water is the "climate justice fight of our lifetime" and opposes profit-driven agendas that jeopardize water reserves.

Believes policies to combat climate change are crucial for future generations' survival. Criticizes Arizona's lack of sustainable water usage policies amid a 20-year drought.

- Believes securing access to clean water is the "climate justice fight of our lifetime" and opposes profit-driven agendas that jeopardize water reserves.

Energy & the Environment

Believes in enhancing privacy protections for election officers by restricting the disclosure of personal identifiers if it endangers safety.

Supports making it unlawful to handle or return ballots for others.

Believes in updating voter and election officer instructions to ensure individuals can only handle or return their own ballots or those of family members, household members, or those they care for. Supports making it unlawful to handle or return ballots for others.

As a state representative, sponsored HB 2839, which updated voter and election officer instructions to ensure individuals can only handle or return their own ballots or those of family members, household members, or those they care for.

- Believes in enhancing privacy protections for election officers by restricting the disclosure of personal identifiers if it endangers safety.
- Supports making it unlawful to handle or return ballots for others.
- As a state representative, sponsored HB 2839, which updated voter and election officer instructions to ensure individuals can only handle or return their own ballots or those of family members, household members, or those they care for.

Voting & Elections

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Lorena Austin

Arizona primary 2024: Here are the candidates running for the House of Representatives

Plans to address inflation through the promotion of fiscal responsibility, infrastructure investment, workforce development, and regulatory reform to work towards economic stability.

Said, "Arizona’s universities, including Arizona State University and the University of Arizona, are actively engaged in space research and education. I would like to see Arizona capitalize on this by investing in workforce development programs tailored to the space industry, infrastructure development including launch facilities, and manufacturing centers, and positioning itself as a hub for space tourism."

- Plans to address inflation through the promotion of fiscal responsibility, infrastructure investment, workforce development, and regulatory reform to work towards economic stability.
- Said, "Arizona’s universities, including Arizona State University and the University of Arizona, are actively engaged in space research and education. I would like to see Arizona capitalize on this by investing in workforce development programs tailored to the space industry, infrastructure development including launch facilities, and manufacturing centers, and positioning itself as a hub for space tourism."

Opposes undocumented immigration and plans to address issues faced by border patrol agents.

Said, "I aim to advocate for policies that support local law enforcement, target drug trafficking organizations, increase access to addiction treatment and recovery services, and promote personal responsibility and self-reliance."

- Opposes undocumented immigration and plans to address issues faced by border patrol agents.
- Said, "I aim to advocate for policies that support local law enforcement, target drug trafficking organizations, increase access to addiction treatment and recovery services, and promote personal responsibility and self-reliance."

Wants to expand access to affordable healthcare, promote letting individuals choose options, and invest in wellness initiatives and preventative care.

- Wants to expand access to affordable healthcare, promote letting individuals choose options, and invest in wellness initiatives and preventative care.

Supports allowing parents to choose the method of education for their children.

Advocates expanding childcare options through "market-based solutions, affordability, parental choice, workforce development, and collaboration between public and private sectors."

- Supports allowing parents to choose the method of education for their children.
- Advocates expanding childcare options through "market-based solutions, affordability, parental choice, workforce development, and collaboration between public and private sectors."

Wants to support local communities and private entities in leading water conservation efforts.

- Wants to support local communities and private entities in leading water conservation efforts.

KYLIE BARBER PLEDGES TO SUPPORT CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS

Supports term limits for Congress members.

- Supports term limits for Congress members.

Kylie Barber

AZ Voter Guide, Mendoza, Mary Ann

Believes "rules" for Big Corp are more lenient than for small businesses and supports protecting small businesses from restrictive regulations.

Said, "I will fight for small business owners to never be restricted or locked down and to ensure their livelihoods are protected along with their employees."

- Believes "rules" for Big Corp are more lenient than for small businesses and supports protecting small businesses from restrictive regulations.
- Said, "I will fight for small business owners to never be restricted or locked down and to ensure their livelihoods are protected along with their employees."

Believes in supporting law enforcement by ensuring they have necessary funding, equipment, and training. Plans to "change the narrative back into a positive one" regarding the role of officers in communities.

Believes in supporting law enforcement by ensuring they have necessary funding, equipment, and training, and plans to "change the narrative back into a positive one" regarding the role of officers in communities.

Believes "LEGAL immigration" strengthens the country but opposes granting "illegals" the same rights as citizens. Supports using the National Guard and law enforcement for border security and passing Remittance Tax and Anti-Sanctuary legislation.

Believes "legal immigration" strengthens the country but opposes granting "illegals" the same rights as citizens. Supports using the National Guard and law enforcement for border security and passing Remittance Tax and Anti-Sanctuary legislation.

Supports the Second Amendment and opposes any amendments or restrictions to it.

Believes public safety is paramount and advocates for stricter immigration enforcement to prevent crimes by illegal immigrants.

Believes public safety is paramount and advocates for stricter immigration enforcement.

Believes Arizona has the right to secure its border with Mexico to protect its citizens.

Believes the Second Amendment is a Constitutional Right that should never be "infringed upon or compromised."

Believes in the importance of police officers with "strength and integrity" and supports community engagement programs like "Shop with a Cop."

Believes in the commitment and sacrifices of law enforcement officers. Supports strong public safety measures and values the role of police in the community.

Believes in protecting the U.S. by supporting law enforcement and safeguarding vulnerable populations. Said, "we need men and women to fight to protect the U.S."

Believes in protecting the U.S. by supporting law enforcement and safeguarding vulnerable populations, saying, "we need men and women to fight to protect the U.S."

Said, "We need to pass Remittance Tax legislation that would provide the resources to build border security without expecting Arizona taxpayers to foot the bill."

- Believes in supporting law enforcement by ensuring they have necessary funding, equipment, and training, and plans to "change the narrative back into a positive one" regarding the role of officers in communities.
- Supports the Second Amendment and opposes any amendments or restrictions to it.
- Believes Arizona has the right to secure its border with Mexico to protect its citizens.
- Believes in the importance of police officers with "strength and integrity" and supports community engagement programs like "Shop with a Cop."
- Believes in protecting the U.S. by supporting law enforcement and safeguarding vulnerable populations, saying, "we need men and women to fight to protect the U.S."
- Said, "We need to pass Remittance Tax legislation that would provide the resources to build border security without expecting Arizona taxpayers to foot the bill."

Believes it is an overreach for any government to mandate COVID vaccines and opposes vaccine mandates for American citizens. Plans to uphold the right to work, worship, and participate in society regardless of vaccination status.

Opposes government mandates for COVID vaccines and plans to "fight to protect our rights."

Opposes government mandates for COVID vaccines.

- Opposes government mandates for COVID vaccines and plans to "fight to protect our rights."

Believes parents should monitor school curriculums to prevent "indoctrination" and ensure quality education. Plans to "stop the federal overreach" in education and protect freedom of speech.

Believes parents should monitor school curriculums to prevent "indoctrination" and ensure quality education, and plans to "stop the federal overreach" in education and protect freedom of speech.

Supports school choice and state funds following students to their chosen school, whether public or private, with a curriculum approved by parents.

Believes educational systems prioritize "personal feelings" over "individual and parental rights." Plans to "disrupt the liberal agenda" in education to restore "constitutional soundness."

Believes educational systems prioritize "personal feelings" over "individual and parental rights," and wants to "disrupt the liberal agenda" in education to restore "constitutional soundness."

Believes parents and legislators should protect children from "indoctrination" and advocate for true education. Supports policies ensuring a genuine educational experience in K-12 schools and colleges.

Believes parents and legislators should protect children from "indoctrination" and advocate for true education, and supports policies ensuring a genuine educational experience in K-12 schools and colleges.

- Supports school choice and state funds following students to their chosen school, whether public or private, with a curriculum approved by parents.

Believes Arizona must address imminent water shortages by considering solutions like desalination. Supports securing and budgeting for water solutions to sustain the state's growth and industries.

Believes Arizona must address imminent water shortages by considering solutions like desalination, and supports securing and budgeting for water solutions to sustain the state's growth and industries.

Believes Arizona will face water shortages soon and urges immediate action to address the issue.

- Believes Arizona must address imminent water shortages by considering solutions like desalination, and supports securing and budgeting for water solutions to sustain the state's growth and industries.
- Believes Arizona will face water shortages soon and urges immediate action to address the issue.

Believes in "one person, one vote" with in-person voting on paper ballots and requiring photo ID. Opposes internet-based voting machines and supports limiting absentee and mail-in voting to specific circumstances.

Believes in "one person, one vote" with in-person voting on paper ballots and requiring photo ID, and opposes internet-based voting machines and supports limiting absentee and mail-in voting to specific circumstances.

- Believes in "one person, one vote" with in-person voting on paper ballots and requiring photo ID, and opposes internet-based voting machines and supports limiting absentee and mail-in voting to specific circumstances.

Mary Ann Mendoza

Ballotpedia, Seth Blattman

Believes the economy should prioritize small businesses and working-class families. Supports fully funding education to attract companies and create good-paying jobs locally.

Wants to ensure that small businesses and working-class families are prioritized and that there are enough jobs to support eligible workers.

- Wants to ensure that small businesses and working-class families are prioritized and that there are enough jobs to support eligible workers.

As of September 17, 2024, Seth Blattman’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes abortion should remain safe and legal, and that government should not interfere in personal medical decisions.

Believes fully funding public education is essential for long-term prosperity and views it as an investment in children's future. Said, "Being bottom five in anything is embarrassing let alone how much we are choosing to invest in our children’s future."

Advocates for investment in public education to ensure long-term prosperity for children.

- Advocates for investment in public education to ensure long-term prosperity for children.

Believes extremism in politics is destructive and supports reforms to bring more qualified candidates into office. Plans to reduce partisan politics and special interest influence to ensure elected officials are accountable to the people.

Supports structural political reform in order to enhance relations between the Republican and Democratic parties.

- Supports structural political reform in order to enhance relations between the Republican and Democratic parties.

Seth Blattman

- Your state representatives represent the interests of your local district in the Arizona State House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up the state lawmaking body: the Arizona Legislature.
- Your state representatives can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws.
- Arizona has 30 districts, and each district is represented by two State Representatives, making a total of 60 State Representatives.
- State Representatives are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $24,000. They only serve in the role part-time.