Arizona Senator Raquel Terran, a Democrat, officially launched her campaign on Wednesday to replace Democratic Rep. bottom.

Terran stepped down as the minority leader of the Arizona Senate in March after serving just two months in the run-up to the House election.

The Arizona native is running for the federal government for the first time after serving as chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party for nearly two years in the state Senate and three years in the state House of Representatives.

Born in Douglas, on the U.S.-Mexico border, and raised bilaterally, Terran is the chief sponsor of the controversial SB 1070, former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former state Senator Russell Pierce ( Republican Party) and other Arizona immigration hawks. crackdown on immigration.

“When I started meeting the Russell Pierce of the world, the Sheriff Arpaios of the world here in Arizona, I decided to take the values ​​my grandparents and parents taught me and put them into action,” Teran said. “So I was at the forefront of challenging and eliminating SB 1070 author Joe Arpaio and challenging and eliminating Russell Pearce.”

Terran community organizing efforts against the likes of Arpaio and Pierce were met with hostility throughout the aisles.

After her success in the 2018 state legislative election and her failure to win a seat in 2012, Terran faced a “Berser” lawsuit from Arizona Republicans challenging her U.S. citizenship.

Born in the United States, Terran successfully defended against these lawsuits.

“In the last 20 years, nothing has been handed to me, personally or professionally. We have always heard irresponsible behavior,” says Terán.

But Terran notes that Arizona Democrats have gone from being a repressed minority party to the party that controls the governor and the state’s two Senate seats during her political career. Did.

“I’ve always said ‘si se puede,'” she said. “I am known and my trajectory is a proven coalition builder, and ensuring victory in 2024 will be the focus of our campaign.”

Terran’s early run reflects a Senate strategy in which Gallego began campaigning and fundraising shortly after Cinema announced he was leaving the Democratic Party.

Gallego’s strategy has so far kept credible candidates out of the Democratic Senate primary, and while Terran’s early pitches may give her a boost, the quest for the safe blue seat will keep all potential candidates out. It is unlikely to frighten off the Democratic opponents.

Of the three Democrats to win a seat in the House of Representatives in Arizona in 2022, Gallego won the district by the widest margin with 77% of the vote.

“This is a seat in Congress and we know the primary will probably be tough. [we’re] Starting early, we will share what we are having conversations with district members, district residents and district voters,” she said.

Terran said he has worked with Gallego to transform Arizona from ruby ​​red to a competitive state, saying he “would love to have” Gallego’s endorsement and wants his support for his bid in the Senate. offered.

“There is no doubt that Rep. Gallego is the progressive Democrat that a Senate needs. Told.

Gallego, who still faces a long road to the Senate, said he would not participate in the race for the current seat for now.

“Right now, my focus is on the Senate elections and getting the people of Arizona to have a say in Congress. I’m looking forward to it,” he told The Hill.

While Teran embarked on a political path focused on immigration reform, voters in the Phoenix area have expressed concerns about other issues, she said.

“What people are thinking is that we need an economy that doesn’t leave people behind,” Teran said, citing rising home rental prices in the Phoenix area as a top concern.

Including Terran’s primary, the Arizona race could have other national issues.

“Healthcare that doesn’t bankrupt people, we need access to health care for everyone. That includes legal and safe abortion. And that of course includes addressing the climate crisis,” he said. Terran said.

Climate is a particularly important issue in Arizona, where air quality and water resources affect people’s daily lives.

Terran praised the Democratic victory in the state as a starting point for addressing these issues, notably Gov. Katie Hobbs, who presented “more solutions that serve sustainability needs, not lobbyists.” (Democrat) praised.

“When the governor came in, she found reports that there was no guarantee that the West Valley, where our community had also been evacuated, would have water for the next 100 years. should be considered,” said Terán.