Hernandez joins District 2 State House race

Daniel Hernandez Jr. said he will file candidate paperwork this week to run for state House of Representatives.

He said Thursday he will formally announce his candidacy next month.

Hernandez has served on the Sunnyside School District Governing Board since 2011 and stepped down as president at the last meeting following a busy 18 months that included a superintendent search.

Hernandez said he wants to continue in a leadership and advocacy position as a state representative for Legislative District 2 by focusing on education and economic issues.

Hernandez, a Democrat, said he has built political relationships across party lines, including work with former Gov. Jan Brewer on her veto of “three really bad gun bills” and her signing a mental health bill.

Hernandez was a congressional intern who aided then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords after she was shot in the Jan. 8, 2011, mass shooting on the northwest side.

The District 2 race is expected to be competitive. Incumbent Republican Chris Ackerley and incumbent Democrat Rosanna Gabaldon are running for another term. Newcomer Aaron Baumann, a Democrat, is also running.

There’s still plenty of time for more candidates to join races before the August primary election. Here’s a look at who has filed to run in 2016 so far.

District 2

Senate: Andrea Dalessandro*, D; Shelley Kais, R.

House: Chris Ackerley*, R; Aaron Baumann, D; Rosanna Gabaldon*, D; Daniel Hernandez, D.

District 3

Senate: Olivia Cajero Bedford*, D.

House: Macario Saldate*, D.

District 4

Senate: Lisa Otondo, D.

House: Charlene Fernandez*, D.

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District 8

Senate: Barbara McGuire*, D; Frank Pratt, R.

House: Darla Dawald, R; T.J. Shope*, R; Rey Torres, R.

District 9

Senate: Steve Farley*, D; Alex O’Neil, I.

House: Randall Friese*, D; Pamela Powers Hannley, D; Ana Henderson, R; Matt Kopec*, D.

District 10

Senate: David Bradley*, D; William Wildish, R.

House: Todd Clodfelter, R; Kirsten Engel, D; Courtney Frogge, D; Stefanie Mach*, D.

District 11

Senate: Barry McCain, D; Steve Smith*, R.

House: Mark Finchem*, R; Corin Hammond, D; Vince Leach*, R.

District 14

Senate: Gail Griffin*, R

House: Dennis Barger, R; Mike Holmes, D; Becky Ann Nutt, R; Anthony Sizer, R.

* Denotes incumbent

Contact reporter Becky Pallack at bpallack@tucson.com or 573-4346. On Twitter: @BeckyPallack