GOVERNMENT

Alma Hernandez

Arizona State Legislator

The first Mexican-American Jewish person ever elected to public office in the United States, and daughter of an immigrant, Democratic state legislator Rep. Alma Hernandez represents Arizona’s 3rd House District in Tucson. Hernandez is known as an outspoken advocate for the U.S.-Israel relationship and a passionate supporter of Holocaust education in schools. In March 2020, Hernandez was the lead sponsor for a bill requiring Arizona law enforcement to track antisemitic crimes and adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which includes “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.” Prior to winning office, Hernandez worked at the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, leading the Jewish Community Relations Council. (Photo: Wikimedia / Creative Commons License)