Maritza Higuera Announces Campaign for Arizona State House in Legislative District 21
TUCSON, AZ — Maritza Higuera, a mother, immigrant, and community advocate, today announced her candidacy for the Arizona State House of Representatives in Legislative District 21, pledging to be a fearless voice for working families and a fighter against extremist policies harming Arizona communities. Higuera enters the race at a moment of deep frustration for voters who feel ignored by politicians willing to compromise core values for political convenience. She is running on a platform centered on defending immigrant families, protecting public schools, lowering housing and healthcare costs, and restoring accountability at the Capitol. “I’m running because families like mine are tired of being treated as political bargaining chips,” said Higuera. “I came to this country believing that hard work and honesty mattered. But too often, politicians make decisions that hurt our communities and then expect us to accept it quietly. I won’t.” Higuera pointed to recent legislative actions that have alarmed many voters, including last year’s vote by a group of Democrats who joined Republicans to fund the GITEEM program through the Arizona Department of Public Safety, directing taxpayer dollars toward immigrant roundups and detention. “Funding programs that target immigrant families is wrong, no matter which party does it, Leadership means drawing a line and standing by your community.” – Higuera Higuera also criticized the continued influence of Trump-era extremism on Republican policy agendas, including efforts to undermine the courts, erode due process, and advance legislation that shifts costs onto states and working families. She warned that recent federal actions, including the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” will have devastating consequences for Arizona’s economy, healthcare system, and public services. A mother of three, Higuera says her campaign is deeply personal. “Everything I do is about the future my kids and all our kids will inherit,” she said. “We need leaders who fight with the same intensity for their communities that they do for their own families. That’s the kind of representative I will be.” Higuera also emphasized her support for organized labor and first responders, noting that her husband is a firefighter. “I understand sacrifice, long shifts, and the anxiety families carry every day. Our leaders should honor that sacrifice with action, not empty praise.” The race for LD 21 is expected to be competitive, with voters increasingly demanding leaders who reflect their lived experiences and are willing to challenge both Republican extremism and Democratic complacency. “This campaign isn’t about titles or ambition,” Higuera said. “It’s about responsibility. It’s about showing up, telling the truth, and fighting back when our communities are under attack.”