Daniel Hernandez Starts Strong, Raises over 100K in 24 Hours After Launching Campaign for AZ-07

March 25, 2025

75% of all donations are $100 or less

Tucson Sentinel, Washington Post, Arizona Republic and over a dozen other outlets highlight Hernandez’s message of lowering costs & standing strong against Trump and Musk

Tucson, Arizona – Yesterday, Daniel Hernandez, former member of the Arizona House of Representatives and first-generation American, launched his campaign for Arizona’s Seventh Congressional District. In a video announcement released yesterday morning, Hernandez vows to fight the MAGA extremists, lower costs, and protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security in Congress. He also shares how healthcare access saved his life as a teenager and how his medical training gave him the skills to help save lives on the terrible day when a gunman opened fire on at an event with Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

Hernandez has built momentum out of the gate, raising significant funds from grassroots supporters and making a splash in the Arizona and national press.

Daniel Hernandez’s strong fundraising start, by the numbers:

✅ Over $100,000 raised

✅ 66% of all donations are from Arizona

✅ 75% of all donations are $100 or less

Here’s what they’re saying about Daniel’s strong strong start:

Tucson Sentinel: Democrat Daniel Hernandez running for CD7 seat after Grijalva’s death

By Jim Nintzel

It’s an opportunity for me to once again serve the community that raised me and give other people a shot at the American Dream that I got,” Hernandez said, “but also make sure that we’re having somebody who goes to D.C. who can be a voice and an advocate for so many of these programs that are on the chopping block because of the Trump administration and the MAGA extremists that are enabling them in Washington.”

Hernandez first captured the public spotlight at age 20 when, as a congressional intern, he applied pressure to then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ forehead after she was among the 19 people shot at her Congress on Your Corner event on Jan. 8, 2011. Six people were killed and 13 wounded, including Giffords.

Washington Post: Former Arizona state representative enters competitive Democratic primary to succeed Rep. Grijalva

By Patrick Svitek

Daniel Hernandez, a former intern for Gabby Giffords who helped save the Arizona congresswoman when she was wounded in a 2011 shooting, is announcing today that he is running to succeed the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Arizona).

“America is in trouble,” Hernandez says in an announcement video, speaking over images of Trump and Musk. “I’m running for Congress because we need leaders who will stand up and do whatever it takes for working families, for veterans and for seniors.”

KVOA Tucson: Daniel Hernandez launches bid for Arizona’s Seventh Congressional District seat

Arizona Republic: Former state Rep. Daniel Hernandez Jr. announces run for vacant US House seat

By Laura Gersony and Rey Covarrubias Jr.

Hernandez saw an immediate concern for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District as the Trump administration considered cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, services he previously benefited from.

“When I was 17 years old, I had Graves’ disease and I didn’t have health care and I almost died. It wasn’t until I was able to get under KidsCare and the state Children Health Insurance Program, you know, suddenly able to get the care that I needed.” He saw cuts to publicly funded medical care as a danger set forth by President Trump’s rapid revision of federal spending, which could compensate by cutting costs from Medicaid and Medicare. “It’s more than just an abstract idea. It’s literally stuff that impacts and hurts people’s lives every single day in CD 7,” he said

Arizona Mirror: Daniel Hernandez launches bid for southern Arizona congressional seat after Grijalva’s death

By Caitlin Sievers

In a phone interview with the Arizona Mirror, Hernandez acknowledged that it’s a messy time to get into national politics, but said his experiences in the Grand Canyon State have helped prepare him for it.

“When we’re talking about D.C., yes, it’s bad, but I’ve served in the Arizona State Legislature, which I would argue is a pretty big mess,” he said. “I not only survived it, but was able to fight and actually get wins and I think that’s what we really need right now in Washington D.C.”

The Hill: Former Giffords intern Daniel Hernandez Jr. running for Grijalva seat

By Lauren Irwin

Daniel Hernández Jr., a former intern for former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) who served in the Arizona legislature, announced on Monday he is running for former Rep. Raúl Grijalva’s (D-Ariz.) seat in Congress.

“I’m running for Congress in AZ-07! I’ve spent my life fighting for Southern Arizona—protecting our healthcare, lowering costs for families, standing up to extremists, and defending our democracy,” Hernández said in a post on X. “Now, I’m taking that fight to Washington.”

KYMA: Daniel Hernandez announces run for Congress

By Dillon Fuhrman and Miriam Ordonez

Hernandez also shared how access to healthcare saved his life when he was a teenager and “how his medical training gave him the skills to help save lives” when a gunman opened fire during an event hosted by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

“I’ve faced my share of hardships. Growing up, my family struggled to make ends meet. We depended on Medicaid and when I lost health insurance as a teenager it nearly killed me. And an act of political violence tested my resolve to keep on fighting,” Hernandez explained.

KAWC: Former Arizona state Rep. Daniel Hernandez announces run for Congress

By Victor Calderón

“We have a crisis in our country right now where we have the cost of living (rising) and the access to health care through cuts to Medicare and Medicaid looming,” Hernandez told KAWC. “I’m excited to be running because I want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to reduce the cost of living like I did when I was in the Legislature for six years.”

12 News: Former Arizona state representative announces bid for Grijalva’s congressional seat

Tucson Agenda: CD-7 Watch

By Joe Ferguson

Hernandez said southern Arizonans need a local leader who can stand up for them. “We need a voice and a fighter in DC,” he said, noting the cuts planned for Arizona will have huge impacts on families in southern Arizona. “It is not abstract, people are going to get hurt and some will die.”

KJZZ: Former lawmaker Daniel Hernandez enters CD7 race to replace Rep. Raúl Grijalva

By Wayne Schutsky

Hernandez is the first well-known Democrat to officially enter the race in Congressional District 7, a blue district in southern Arizona.

In his first campaign ad, Hernandez says he will fight to preserve Medicaid, social security and voting rights.

KTAR: Former Democratic state lawmaker enters race for Raúl Grijalva’s congressional seat

By Kevin Stone

Daniel Hernandez Jr., a former Democratic state lawmaker, jumped into the race for late U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva’s congressional seat on Monday.

“I’m running for Congress because we need leaders who will stand up and do whatever it takes for working families, for veterans and for seniors,” he said in a video announcement.

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