Arizona House of Representatives District 26 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Arizona, 2022

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On the ballot: U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Governor • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Supreme court • Appellate courts • Local judges • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal

This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Arizona House of Representatives District 26 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Arizona House of Representatives District 26 (2 seats)

Cesar Aguilar and Flavio Bravo won election in the general election for Arizona House of Representatives District 26 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Cesar Aguilar (D)	54.0	21,795
✔		Flavio Bravo (D)	46.0	18,554

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 40,349
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Frank Roberts (R)

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

Since 2008, Arizona has not kept up with properly funding public education across the board from Kinder to higher education. K-12 needs a minimum of a continued funding of over $1 Billion dollars, public higher education is short $300 million dollars. In state students can not afford to attain what is suppose to be the most affordable options and we need to cut tuition and fees in half for instate students. If elected I would use money from the general fund to fund $1.3 billion back into public education across the board and that is just the starting point. Cesar is the most qualified due to his work in the Arizona Students' Association and his volunteer work as a former school board member.

Coming out of the pandemic working class peoples number one fear was getting sick or getting hurt and not having healthcare. The only way working families survive is by working and if families are not healthy enough to work, they are not healthy enough to survive. We are all one sickness away from being homleless, lossing our property and most of all not being able to provide for our families. Cesar wants to make sure we expand medicaid to working families so that our communities are healthy and able to survive.

Arizona was founded as a pro-union constitution, Arizona Union Miners took pride in their work just like every union worker does. We need to make sure professionals in their trade are compensated for their work and able to move into the middle class. Families should be able to have healthcare, livable wages, and a pension so that they can retire peacefully. As Arizona grows we need to make sure that jobs are properly compensating their employees who help them succeed by allowing them to join a union.

Flavio Bravo (D)

As a first-generation college graduate, I recognize the importance of fully-funded public education and I will support our children, teachers, and each of our neighborhood schools.

It's time we treated housing as a critical part of ensuring safe communities. I will advocate for programs to make housing more affordable for everyone.

No one should be denied access to healthcare based on their personal circumstances. I will work to expand access to public health resources across our community.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

Education, Unions, and Healthcare

Flavio Bravo (D)

I am personally passionate about expanding access to education, affordable housing, and supporting small-businesses including local restaurants.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

Bernie Sanders is someone who I look up to because he doesn't limit what the United States is capable of being. He calls for Universal Healthcare and he calls for the cancelation of student debt and affordable higher education. He knows that those two issues are critical to Americans' daily lives. If we can educate folks we can be an even more advanced society. If we can care for our neighbor's health, they wouldn't have to sacrifice everything they have to live.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

The Jungle, explains the life of an immigrant in America.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

Integrity, Compassion, Honesty

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

Write Legislation that impacts the district the representative serves.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

I remember 911 happening and it was one of the first things to happen that morning while we were at school. I was about 6 years old and didn't fully understand the whole situation but I remember the world being at a pause. Our parents had to come to pick us up early from school and everyone worried about what was to follow.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

My first job was at 5 years old cutting grass with my grandpa in Scottsdale. I did that every weekend till I was about 10 years old. Then I worked in construction at 15 years old every summer break till I graduated college. In my freshman year of high school, I also worked at Just Sports at Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall during the week and weekends I was available.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

The Jungle

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

The Show Goes On

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

I believe that the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature is that both parties have access to the Governor. The Governor should be the person to listen to both sides and take both sides into consideration for the greater good of Arizona. Arizona should not be dominated by one party because that is who is in power. The Governor has the responsibility of listening to all of Arizona and all of its problems.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

Water, water needs to be Arizona's top priority. Arizona is growing at an exponential rate and it frightens me to see how many people and businesses are moving to Arizona. Arizona is a desert and is not meant to sustain a large population. Businesses and people will always move when water is not available but I am born and raised here and I plan to die of old age in Arizona. We need to make sure Arizona has a sustainable plan that will last hundreds of years to come not just a lifetime.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

Checks and balances but also a lot of gridlocks.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

Yes, I believe that candidates are applying for a job. As our society and demographic change, we need younger and more diverse people in different fields in politics. Lawmakers should have experience in politics, governing, or an issue that requires expertise.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Cesar Aguilar (D)

Yes, this is one of the most important jobs in any job, relationships go a long way.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

We have the technology today that can independently and fairly divide districts up, it is time to use them so that our districts are divided fairly.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

Appropriations, Education, Natural Resources Energy & Water

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

Charlene Fernandez

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

No

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

Sen. Raquel Terran speaking about immigration.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Cesar Aguilar (D)

In life, you never get everything you want, and many times you have to settle for less for the greater good.

See also

More about these elections:

• Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2022

Select a district below to read responses from candidates in those races:

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