In the Tuned In, I’ll introduce you to a new AZ based initiative that says something larger about the future of the Dems. Find My Friends has an opportunity to join me on the road this month and Candidate Corner goes deep with a mom running for congress to win a lifetime of care for her constituents.
No. 👏 Safe.👏 Seats. 👏 This initiative springing up with just about a month left until Arizona’s July 21 primary is what it sounds like: an effort to make every seat in the Arizona State Legislature EARNED.
They are focused on electing 5 progressive Democrats in 3 key Legislative Districts. Here’s the breakdown:
LD20: They are supporting challenger, Rocque Perez, against incumbent, Alma Hernandez. Alma has voted with Republicans 42 times this session alone – more than any other Democrat in the legislature. She has a track record of sponsoring
and supporting legislation that advances Project 2025. Think cutting permanent supportive housing and criminalizing pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses.
LD21: Here it’s Miranda Lopez challenging incumbent, Consuelo Hernandez (you guessed right that she is also Alma’s sister). In a truly deep cut, you may also remember I ran against their brother in a 5 way primary for Congress in AZ-07 last year. Her and her sister co-sponsored the Article V constitutional convention
bill that could open the door for Trump to rewrite abortion rights, voting rights, and marriage protections out of the Constitution.
LD24: This one is a little more complicated so walk with me here. The challengers are Lisbeth Arescurenaga and Alberto Flores in the State House and Analise Ortiz in the State Senate. Adding a layer, the opponent is Lydia Hernandez. Who is not related to Alma and Consuelo, but governs like she is. She has voted three times to allow Trump to rewrite the U.S. Constitution through Article V. Every other
Democrat in the legislature voted no— yikes.
If you want to dig in deeper, this video from Community Organizer, Harrison Redmond, makes the case:
Here’s my zoom out. People across the country and the political spectrum are tired. Full stop. Tired of politicians who work for their donors and not their voters. Tired of politics as a family business reserved for insiders. Tired of systems and electeds that don’t deliver on the basics that actually make our lives easier. That is the energy fueling young, progressive challengers. Their biggest asset in this political moment is their outsider status and it’s bringing the fight to safe blue seats at all levels. I would keep my eyes peeled for more initiatives like this one popping up around the country.
I’m joining the Aspen Ideas Festival as a fellow this month in Colorado!
Meet Julie Won! She is a mom, immigrant, and tech worker running for Congress in New York’s 7th Congressional District. She has the support of ASPIRE PAC, which champions AANHPI candidates and were among my earliest supporters when I ran last year. Early voting is already underway in her race with the primary on June 23, 2026.
Big Three Issues: Abolish ICE, Lifetime of Care, AI regulation
D: Your motto is lifetime of care. What would that look like?
J: Lifetime of Care means that our country should have your back from the moment you’re born until the day you die. That means: pre-natal care and postpartum care, universal paid leave, universal childcare, universal healthcare, retirement care, and burial assistance. Ultimately, we need to move from a profit-driven economy to a care economy, where people aren’t viewed as worthless if they’re too young, too old, pregnant, or too sick to work. We live in the wealthiest country on earth - we can take care of one another.
DF: One thing you’re doing differently:
J: I’m the only candidate in my race that won’t accept SuperPAC money.
DF: You’re a mom and caregiver for parents. So many people in the sandwich generation can relate to that pressure. What lessons from those roles have been useful on the campaign trail?
J: Raising two toddlers while taking care of my aging immigrant parents informs my entire platform. Every month, we stretch every dollar to pay for childcare, rent, laundry, groceries, childcare, and everything in between. It shouldn’t be this expensive to take care of our loved ones. My parents shouldn’t receive only $300 each from social security as their only way to survive. We must evolve from a for profit economy to a care economy — where success isn’t measured by how much we extract from people, but by how well we take care of each other as a country.
DF: Worst campaign advice you’ve ever gotten?
J: “Why don’t you run in Chinatown? This isn’t an Asian district.”
DF: Tell me about your experience at Delaney Hall. What happened? How does your immigrant story inform your work and what it means to actually stand up in this moment?
J: As the only immigrant in the race, I am deeply disturbed by the reports of immigrant women who are being sexually assaulted by the same guard in Delaney Hall. I’m deeply haunted by the women who had miscarriages at Delaney Hall because they were denied medical care. I am deeply disheartened by denial of family visitations for detainees at Delaney Hall. I went to Delaney Hall to stand in solidarity with detainees who are still on hunter strike protesting inhumane treatment (crumbling facilities, rotting food, lack of healthcare). ICE officers pushed us, hit us, and pepper sprayed us. I know as someone who became naturalized, no amount of beating or macing will compare to the pain of unjust deportation and family separation. Abolish ICE.
DF: A word of advice to young people who want to get involved.
J: Go to Med school– jk. Lol. Listen to your inner voice, always. Follow your instincts and see where it leads you. I never thought I'd run for any office and the universe led me this far– I'm in my 3rd term in NYC Council and now running for Congress.
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