Dr. Gallitano-Mendel Set to Become the Only Democratic Doctor in Arizona Senate
Dr. Amelia Gallitano-Mendel has won the race for Arizona Legislative District 2. She defeated Republican Sen. Shawnna Bolick and flipped one of the most competitive State Senate seats in Arizona, securing Democratic control of the Arizona Senate for the first time in 33 years. Dr. Gallitano-Mendel is one of 314 Action’s Guardians of Public Health and the only Democratic doctor in the Arizona Senate. In response, 314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton issued the following statement:
“Congratulations to Dr. Gallitano-Mendel on flipping Arizona Legislative District 2. North Phoenix voters just sent a doctor and neuroscientist to the State Senate in one of the toughest districts on the map. Dr. Gallitano-Mendel’s win helps break the Republican majority in the Arizona Senate for the first time in over 30 years. Dr. Gallitano-Mendel understands the science and the stakes—she watched NIH grants dry up in her own research lab and decided to run for office to fight back,” said 314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton.
“Arizona families are paying more for care while Republicans in Congress gut Medicaid and RFK Jr. takes a sledgehammer to our nation’s public health infrastructure. With her win tonight, Dr. Gallitano-Mendel will be the only Democratic doctor in the Arizona Senate, and she’ll use that expertise to protect patients from the fallout of the GOP’s anti-healthcare policies. 314 Action Fund stood with her from the primary through to November, and we’ll be with her in the legislature,” Naughton added.
Dr. Gallitano-Mendel is a physician, PhD neuroscientist and professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, where she helped build the medical school. She led a lab focused on cutting-edge treatments for mental health disorders and provided services to veterans struggling from PTSD at the Phoenix VA for six years. She is one of 314 Action’s Guardians of Public Health, as the organization works to elect 100 new doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals to office by 2030, raising and spending over $25 million in the effort.