Mitzi is from Chicago, Illinois. She has a bachelors degree in computer science from Bradley University. She and her husband Rick live in Tempe and have raised two adult sons. 

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Mitzi owns Custom Language Training in Tempe.

Ballotpedia, Mitzi Epstein

Denise "Mitzi" Epstein is currently serving as an Arizona State Senator representing State Legislative District 12. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term. She began serving as Senate Minority Leader in March 2023. She served three terms as an Arizona State Representative for District 18 from 2016-2022. She ran for Arizona State Representative for District 18 in 2014, but did not win. 

Candidate website

Believes in working with market forces to build a strong economy and provide consumer choices but opposes the idea that tax cuts for billionaires will create high-paying jobs.

Believes Arizona's $1.3 billion surplus should fund public education, caregiver wages, small businesses, and affordable housing. Supports using over $3 billion for one-time projects like infrastructure and debt reduction.

Supports using Arizona's $1.3 billion surplus to fund public education, caregiver wages, small businesses, and affordable housing. Supports using over $3 billion available for one-time projects like infrastructure and debt reduction.

Believes in balancing support for innovation with consumer protections. Plans to ensure small businesses are supported, corporations are accountable, and taxpayers enjoy a fair balance between income retention and community contributions.

Aims to ensure small businesses are supported, corporations are accountable, and taxpayers enjoy a fair balance between income retention and community contributions.

Believes affordable housing is crucial due to stagnant wages and rising costs. Supports wage increases for essential workers and acknowledges the challenges millennials face in buying homes due to high prices.

Supports measures to secure affordable housing.

- Believes in working with market forces to build a strong economy and provide consumer choices but opposes the idea that tax cuts for billionaires will create high-paying jobs.
- Supports using Arizona's $1.3 billion surplus to fund public education, caregiver wages, small businesses, and affordable housing. Supports using over $3 billion available for one-time projects like infrastructure and debt reduction.
- Aims to ensure small businesses are supported, corporations are accountable, and taxpayers enjoy a fair balance between income retention and community contributions.
- Supports measures to secure affordable housing.

Economy

Believes safe neighborhoods are essential and supports adequate funding for public safety professionals. Advocates for "sensible background checks" and "common sense ways" to protect communities from gun violence.

Supports gun control, advocating for "sensible background checks" and "common sense ways" to protect communities from gun violence.

As a House Representative, sponsored HB2604 to extend Orders of Protection for domestic violence victims, enhancing their safety. Believes in collaborative problem-solving with courts, victims' rights groups, and police departments to protect vulnerable individuals.

As a House Representative, sponsored HB2604 to extend the timeframe of orders of protection for domestic violence victims.

Opposes allowing guns on college campuses, believing it could lead to more weapons in active shooter situations.

Opposes HB2447 to allow guns on college campuses.

Supports adequate funding and secure retirement for first responders.

- Supports gun control, advocating for "sensible background checks" and "common sense ways" to protect communities from gun violence.
- As a House Representative, sponsored HB2604 to extend the timeframe of orders of protection for domestic violence victims.
- Opposes HB2447 to allow guns on college campuses.
- Supports adequate funding and secure retirement for first responders.

Public Safety

Believes in protecting reproductive rights and access to safe, legal abortion. Plans to fight for personal healthcare decisions despite the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Healthcare

Opposes "unaccountable schemes" like private school voucher programs that divert funds from public schools. Plans to continue fighting for the public schools that serve 95% of Arizona's students.

Opposes private school voucher programs that divert funds from public schools.

Believes the defeat of Proposition 208 is a "tragedy" for Arizona's public schools. Supports increased investment in education to ensure a more prosperous, competitive, and equitable future for the state's 1.1 million students.

Supports increased investment in education.

Supports increased teacher pay, better funding for students, and additional school counselors and psychologists.

Believes in lifting the artificial limit on K-12 spending to ensure school districts access allocated funds. Supports policies that enhance funding and resources for K-12 education.

Believes in lifting the aggregate expenditure limit, a "artificial limit" on K-12 spending to ensure school districts access allocated funds. 

- Opposes private school voucher programs that divert funds from public schools.
- Supports increased investment in education.
- Supports increased teacher pay, better funding for students, and additional school counselors and psychologists.
- Believes in lifting the aggregate expenditure limit, a "artificial limit" on K-12 spending to ensure school districts access allocated funds. 

Education

Believes groundwater management is crucial to avoid "adding endless water to a leaky bucket" and supports a balanced approach of conservation and growth involving all stakeholders.

Supports immediate efforts of groundwater management.

- Supports immediate efforts of groundwater management.

Energy & the Environment

Believes in protecting the right to free and fair elections with maximum voter access. As a House Representative, helped stop bills that would have restricted early voting and purged valid voters from the voter list.

Believes in protecting the right to free and fair elections with maximum voter access. 

- Believes in protecting the right to free and fair elections with maximum voter access. 

Voting & Elections

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Endorsed by the Arizona Medical Political Action Committee.

- Endorsed by the Arizona Medical Political Action Committee.

Endorsements

Denise "Mitzi" Epstein

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Arizona State Senate. The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Arizona Legislature. 
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process. 
- State senators are involved in approving some appointments by the governor.
- There are 30 Arizona senators, each representing a single district.
- State senators are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $24,000.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Arizona Senate.

Arizona State Senator, District 12, Democratic Primary

Election results

Candidates (1)