Yolanda Bejarano

Yolanda Bejarano

Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office January 2023
Preceded by	Raquel Terán

Personal details
Born	1974/1975 (age 49–50)
Political party	Democratic
Education	Arizona State University

Yolanda Bejarano (born 1974/1975) is an American labor union organizer serving as the chair of the Arizona Democratic Party since 2023. She was a field director of the Communications Workers of America.

Life

Bejarano was born in 1974 or 1975 and raised in Roll, Arizona.^[1]^[2] She attended Arizona State University where she led the emo-punk quartet, Slugger until it broke up the summer of 1996.^[1] She later became the lead singer and guitarist of Chula, a punk and mariachi band.^[1] In 1999, Bejarano described Chula as being indie rock with heavy punk influences.^[3]

Bejarano first entered politics following the passage of Arizona SB 1070.^[2] She was a field director for Communications Workers of America.^[4] She served as vice chair of the Arizona Democratic Party.^[2] In January 2023, Bejarano was elected with seventy percent of the votes to a two-year term as chair.^[2] She defeated Steve Gallardo who had been endorsed by governor Katie Hobbs.^[2] Bejarano succeeded Raquel Terán.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Garcia, Gilbert (December 25, 1997). "Double Threat". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Barchenger, Stacey (2023-01-29). "Arizona Democrats elect Bejarano as party chair". Arizona Republic. pp. A11. Retrieved 2023-11-22 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Cano-Murillo, Kathy (1999-04-15). "Cute like a knife: Chula hones punk spunk". Arizona Republic. p. 300. Retrieved 2023-11-22 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Yolanda Bejarano elected Arizona Democratic Party chair". Associated Press. 2023-01-28. Retrieved 2023-11-22.