Ballotpedia, Juan Mendez

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Juan was born in Phoenix. He holds an associate's degree in classical studies from Phoenix College and both a bachelor's degree in political science and a master of public administration degree from Arizona State University. He is a father. 

Juan previously worked as a substitute teacher at Tempe Union High School District and as a community voice mail manager for Community Voice Mail.

Juan Mendez currently serves as a state senator for State Senate District 8. He was elected to this position in 2016 and is serving his fourth term. Juan previously served as a state representative in State Legislative District 26. He was elected to this position in 2012 and served for 2 terms.  

Supports equal salaries and gender-neutral pay.

Supports affordable housing and policies that aid low-income families, veterans, and disabled and elderly populations.

Supports policies aimed to address economic inequalities.

Supports investing in technical education programs to help foster skills for employment.

- Supports equal salaries and gender-neutral pay.
- Supports affordable housing and policies that aid low-income families, veterans, and disabled and elderly populations.
- Supports providing livable wages.
- Supports policies aimed to address economic inequalities.
- Supports investing in technical education programs to help foster skills for employment.

Economy

Supports policies aimed to address racial injustices.

Wants to make efforts to end mass incarceration,  incarceration for those imprisoned for drug addiction-related matters, and passing laws legalizing marijuana possession and ending mandatory minimums.

Wants to abolish life sentences for children and private prisons.

Wants to establish transparency for law enforcement, abolish police officer immunity from lawsuits due to unlawful practice, and hold police officers accountable through databases and discipline records.

Wants to reallocate funds for law enforcement and state prison to education, healthcare, and housing.

Wants to repeal SB 1070, which aims to reduce undocumented immigration in Arizona.

Supports immigration and permitting refugees and asylum seekers to live in the U.S.

- Supports policies aimed to address racial injustices.
- Supports LGBTQIA rights.
- Wants to make efforts to end mass incarceration,  incarceration for those imprisoned for drug addiction-related matters, and passing laws legalizing marijuana possession and ending mandatory minimums.
- Wants to abolish life sentences for children and private prisons.
- Wants to demilitarize the police force.
- Wants to establish transparency for law enforcement, abolish police officer immunity from lawsuits due to unlawful practice, and hold police officers accountable through databases and discipline records.
- Wants to reallocate funds for law enforcement and state prison to education, healthcare, and housing.
- Wants to repeal SB 1070, which aims to reduce undocumented immigration in Arizona.
- Supports immigration and permitting refugees and asylum seekers to live in the U.S.

Public Safety

Believes "Healthcare is a universal right. Everyone should have access to high-quality care."

Supports providing Medicaid and the option to buy into the program for all state residents.

Wants to install policies aimed at regulating medication costs, improving safety measures, expanding basic drug coverage, and holding drugmakers accountable for marketing practices that contribute to opioid addiction.

Supports long-term COVID-19 safety measures, including widespread access to vaccines, boosters, and free testing, and urging masks in public when social distancing is not possible,

Supports abortion and promises to challenge any bans or restrictions.

Supports universal access to contraception.

- Believes "Healthcare is a universal right. Everyone should have access to high-quality care."
- Supports providing Medicaid and the option to buy into the program for all state residents.
- Wants to install policies aimed at regulating medication costs, improving safety measures, expanding basic drug coverage, and holding drugmakers accountable for marketing practices that contribute to opioid addiction.
- Supports long-term COVID-19 safety measures, including widespread access to vaccines, boosters, and free testing, and urging masks in public when social distancing is not possible,
- Supports abortion and promises to challenge any bans or restrictions.
- Supports universal access to contraception.

Healthcare

Wants to address teacher shortages, raise teacher pay, and reduce classroom sizes.

Believes there is increased segregation due to private schools illegitimately receiving funds allocated to public schools.

Opposes "one-size-fits-all approach...[and] over testing..." in schools and supports a  STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) focused curriculum prioritizing creative and critical thinking that reflects the backgrounds of all students.

Supports school adhering to COVID-19 safety measures, and providing options of delayed start dates, remote learning, and hybrid options for instruction.

- Wants to address teacher shortages, raise teacher pay, and reduce classroom sizes.
- Believes there is increased segregation due to private schools illegitimately receiving funds allocated to public schools.
- Opposes "one-size-fits-all approach...[and] over testing..." in schools and supports a  STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) focused curriculum prioritizing creative and critical thinking that reflects the backgrounds of all students.
- Supports free higher education.
- Supports school adhering to COVID-19 safety measures, and providing options of delayed start dates, remote learning, and hybrid options for instruction.

Education

Supports easy access to clean water, and wants to address "the profit motives of developers and corrupt utilities who are depleting and poisoning our shared water supply."

Wants policies aimed to reduce pollution, saying "low-income households and people of color are disproportionately impacted by air pollution."

Wants to increase well-paying jobs in the clean energy sector and invest in solar, wind, and hydropower.

- Supports easy access to clean water, and wants to address "the profit motives of developers and corrupt utilities who are depleting and poisoning our shared water supply."
- Wants policies aimed to reduce pollution, saying "low-income households and people of color are disproportionately impacted by air pollution."
- Wants to increase well-paying jobs in the clean energy sector and invest in solar, wind, and hydropower.

Energy & the Environment

Believes "The Republican-led Legislature has chipped away at Arizonans’ voting rights while expanding protections for dirty money and increased corporate spending on elections."

- Believes "The Republican-led Legislature has chipped away at Arizonans’ voting rights while expanding protections for dirty money and increased corporate spending on elections."

Voting & Elections

As of June 8, 2025, Juan Mendez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Endorsements

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Juan Mendez

Ballotpedia, Brian Garcia

Brian was born and raised in Arizona. He earned his bachelor's degree in global studies, his master's degree in legal studies, and his law degree from Arizona State University. He is a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.

Brian currently works as a senior manager for All Voting is Local. He previously worked as a staff attorney for the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, a law clerk for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, a fitness instructor for POUND, and as an outreach coordinator at the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Brian Garcia previously served as a Board Member in Tempe Union High School District Governing Board for 1 term from 2018 to 2022.

Wants to address discrimination in the workplace and equal pay for all employees.

Supports investing in technical education programs and training for the workforce.

Believes "a livable wage will not only contribute the overall success of the local economy, it will result in an increased standard of living for all of us."

- Wants to address discrimination in the workplace and equal pay for all employees.
- Supports investing in technical education programs and training for the workforce.
- Believes "a livable wage will not only contribute the overall success of the local economy, it will result in an increased standard of living for all of us."

Advocates for the Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act, which provides protections for incarcerated women like providing feminine hygiene products and prohibiting restraining pregnant people.

Opposes cash bail and holding people in custody while they wait for trial.

Plans to end mandatory minimums, life sentences for children, and the privatization of prisons.

Wants police officers to wear a body camera and hold law enforcement accountable.

Believes in diverting resources away from the criminal justice system and using the resources to fund communities.

Said, "I’m committed to gun violence prevention advocacy and governing with gun safety in mind."

- Advocates for the Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act, which provides protections for incarcerated women like providing feminine hygiene products and prohibiting restraining pregnant people.
- Opposes cash bail and holding people in custody while they wait for trial.
- Supports legalizing marijuana.
- Plans to end mandatory minimums, life sentences for children, and the privatization of prisons.
- Wants police officers to wear a body camera and hold law enforcement accountable.
- Believes in diverting resources away from the criminal justice system and using the resources to fund communities.
- Said, "I’m committed to gun violence prevention advocacy and governing with gun safety in mind."

Supports abortion and access to contraception.

Plans to expand drug coverage and control prescription drug costs.

Wants to address long term symptoms of  COVID-19 through policies that expand medical leave, increase disability benefits and medical care, and provide economic support.

Supports paid family medical leave of up to 12 weeks.

- Advocates for Medicare for All.
- Supports abortion and access to contraception.
- Plans to expand drug coverage and control prescription drug costs.
- Wants to address long term symptoms of  COVID-19 through policies that expand medical leave, increase disability benefits and medical care, and provide economic support.
- Supports paid family medical leave of up to 12 weeks.

Wants to increase teacher and hire more qualified teachers to lower the student-to-teacher ratio in classrooms.

Believes school should test less and use more diverse teaching methods to reflect the different learning styles of students.

Advocates for more accessible and affordable higher education.

- Wants to increase teacher and hire more qualified teachers to lower the student-to-teacher ratio in classrooms.
- Opposes privatization of schools.
- Believes school should test less and use more diverse teaching methods to reflect the different learning styles of students.
- Advocates for more accessible and affordable higher education.

Supports investments in solar, wind, and hydropower.

Believes " We need solutions now that prioritize the health of our community over the profit motives of developers and corrupt utilities who are depleting and poisoning our shared water supply."

- Supports investments in solar, wind, and hydropower.
- Believes " We need solutions now that prioritize the health of our community over the profit motives of developers and corrupt utilities who are depleting and poisoning our shared water supply."

Endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 640, Arizona Working Families Party, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.

- Endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 640, Arizona Working Families Party, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.

Brian Garcia

Janeen is originally from Boise, ID. a She is a single mother who has raised 4 daughters. Janeen graduated from Cottonwood High School, then earned an associate's degree from Maricopa Community College, as well as both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in advocacy communication from Arizona State University.

Janeen has a career focused on grassroots community engagement. She is a member of the Executive Board for the Central Arizona College Foundation.

Jannen Connolly's campaign for state representative of District 8 is her first run for public office.

As of June 8, 2025, Janeen Connolly’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Candidate website

Supports retaining affordable community college statewide and improving life quality for all Arizonans through education policies.

Supports retaining affordable community college.

- Supports retaining affordable community college.

Endorsed by Stonewall Democrats of Arizona.

Endorsed by Arizona List, a committee for "pro-choice Democratic women in Arizona."

Endorsed by the National Organization for Women - Arizona.

Endorsed by the Arizona Technology Council.

Endorsed by Ironworkers Local 75 Arizona.

- Endorsed by Stonewall Democrats of Arizona.
- Endorsed by Arizona Nurses Association.
- Endorsed by Arizona List, a committee for "pro-choice Democratic women in Arizona."
- Endorsed by the National Organization for Women - Arizona.
- Endorsed by the Arizona Technology Council.
- Endorsed by Ironworkers Local 75 Arizona.

Janeen Connolly

- Your state representatives represent the interests of your local district in the Arizona State House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up the state lawmaking body: the Arizona Legislature.
- Your state representatives can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws.
- Arizona has 30 districts, and each district is represented by two State Representatives, making a total of 60 State Representatives.
- State Representatives are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $24,000. They only serve in the role part-time.