Senate Minority leader leaves leadership to run for Congress 

Sen. Minority Leader Raquel Terán, D-Phoenix, is stepping down from her leadership role in the Senate to run for Congressman Ruben Gallego, D-AZ’s, congressional seat.  

Sen. Minority Whip Rosanna Gabaldón is also stepping down from her leadership role for an unspecified “personal obligation.” 

The Senate Democratic caucus is holding an organizational meeting on Thursday to select new leaders, after which time Terán will officially step down. Assistant Minority Leader Sen. Mitzi Epstein, D-Tempe, said she is interested in filling the minority leader role. 

Rep. Lupe Contreras, D-Avondale, and Democratic consultant Tony Cani guessed in January that Terán would run for Gallego’s seat in Congressional District 3 after he announced that he’ll run for Senate in 2024. 

Terán hasn’t filed a statement of interest in the Congressional District 3 race yet, but one Republican and one Democrat have; Jeff Zink – who lost to Gallego in the 2022 election and a Glendale Elementary School District Governing Board member who ran for a spot in the state House last year and lost. 

Terán chaired the Arizona Democratic Party until this session, when she stepped aside to focus on her Senate leadership role.  

“Over the last two decades, I have been a leader in organizing for justice. From taking on Joe Arpaio and Russell Pearce in the aftermath of SB1070, to leading the Arizona Democratic Party during last year’s historic victories in Arizona, I have learned the power of people mobilizing together in the fight for justice. I look forward to meeting with and listening to constituents, community leaders, and advocates to decide on this next important chapter,” Terán was quoted in a press release on Tuesday. 

The Democratic caucus chair is Sen. Lela Alston, D-Phoenix, and she hasn’t indicated that she wants to change her position. There are only four other Senate Democrats who served in the chamber last year; Sen. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe, Sen. Theresa Hatathlie, D-Coalmine Mesa, Sen. Christine Marsh, D-Phoenix, and Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales, D-Tucson. Typically, leaders in the Legislature have some prior experience in the chamber. 

Mendez was largely absent last session due to concerns about Covid that occasionally frustrated his own colleagues and Hatathlie is only in her second session.