Tucson state legislator Alma Hernandez has been dealt a rebuke by the Democratic Party committee in her own district.
On May 18, the 20th legislative district’s committee approved a “Statement of Concern and Request for Action” for Hernandez. The measure stopped short of a formal censure considered by the committee earlier this month.
The measure criticizes Hernandez for frequently voting with Republicans in the Arizona State House of Representatives and for supporting a bill calling for a national constitutional convention, which the measure states “presents significant constitutional and structural risks.” It also claims Hernandez has “supported legislation advancing policy objectives associated with Project 2025 priorities,” referring to a Heritage Foundation policy agenda characterized by many Democrats as a blueprint for the second Trump administration.
The measure asks Hernandez for “renewed alignment with Democratic Party values, caucus priorities, and the interests of LD20 constituents” and to appear at committee meetings at least three times a year to discuss her votes.
State legislators do not need the support of their district’s party committee to run.
Hernandez did not immediately respond to an AZPM request for comment.
“Representative Hernandez remains the duly elected representative of Legislative District 20, however, elected officials must remain accountable to the communities and principles they were elected to represent,” wrote committee member Matthew Capalby in a press release.
Hernandez is known for bucking her own party. In 2023, she was one of the few Democrats who voted to override Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs’ veto of a bill easing requirements for home cooks to sell food legally.
Back in her district, Hernandez, who is Jewish and supportive of Israel, recently clashed with the University of Arizona College Democrats over their wording of a question about Israel and Palestine in their candidate survey.
Hernandez is now running for Arizona State Senate against former Tucson City Council member Rocque Perez. Five of Tucson’s current city council members have endorsed Perez, while Pima County Attorney Laura Conover has donated to his campaign.
Still, in the first three months of 2026, Perez’s campaign raised only 9,400 dollars to Hernandez’s nearly 37,000. According to her campaign finance report, 80 of Hernandez’s 115 individual donations during that time period came from the Phoenix area, with only 19 coming from Tucson. In contrast, 86 of Perez’s 95 individual donations came from the Tucson area, according to his campaign finance report.
