House Democratic leaders announced Saturday that they will leave Congress when the current session ends to pursue a master’s degree at Harvard Kennedy School.
Tucson Democratic Rep. Andrés Cano called his admission to the school a “once-in-a-lifetime chance” and said it would deepen his ability to continue serving the public, especially in Arizona.
He has been accepted into the mid-career master’s degree program in the Kennedy School’s Public Administration Program beginning in July.
Kano is in his third term and was elected by Congressmen last fall to lead the Democratic caucuses. He made the announcement on Twitter minutes after notifying caucuses and Democratic staff of the move.
Budget voting is set to begin on Tuesday, but details of the plan have yet to be made public.
Kano, 30, represents Legislative District 23, which stretches from the southern suburbs of Maricopa County to the U.S.-Mexico border, west of Tucson, Tohono Oodam Nation, and Yuma, south of Interstate 8. Contains county areas.
His resignation will require the Pima County Supervisory Board to select a replacement, marking the third legislative seat rotation this year.
Cano Senator Raquel Terán stepped down last month and US Representative Ruben Gallego pursued a bid for the vacant congressional seat to run for US Senate. A replacement for Terran has not yet been named, but a decision by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is expected soon.
On Friday, Maricopa’s supervisors appointed Republican Chandler Julie Willoughby to the seat that Rep. Liz Harris held after she was ousted from Congress for disorderly conduct.
Please contact the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com Or follow her on Twitter at 602-228-7566 @maryjpitzl.
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