Daniel Hernandez Jr. is an American politician serving as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives. On May 20, 2021, Hernandez announced his candidacy in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona in the 6th congressional district. A member of the Arizona Democratic Party, Daniel serves alongside Rosanna Gabaldon in Legislative District 2. 

Also Read: Who is Kari Lake?

Daniel was born on January 25, 1990, in Tucson, Arizona. He has two younger sisters, Consuelo and Alma. Alma Hernandez serves as a Democratic member of the Arizona House of Representatives for the 3rd district. 

Daniel graduated from Sunnyside High School in 2008. He volunteered for the Hilary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign 2008. He is a bachelor of arts in political science and a master of legal studies from the University of Arizona. 

Also Read: Donald Trump under DoJ scanner over Capitol riots as Jan 6 hearings pause

In 2011, Hernandez Jr. worked as an intern in the office of Gabby Giffords. He organized a “Congress on your Corner” event which was the site of the 2011 Tucson shooting in which Giffords was shot in the head. Daniel helped her by stanching the bleeding with his hand until clean smocks were arranged from the nearby grocery store. He has been credited for saving Giffords life after the incident. 

Later in 2011, he was elected to the board of the Sunnyside Unified School District. Daniel ran for the Arizona House of Representatives in 2016. He defeated Republican J. Christopher Ackerley in the general election. He received 32,651 votes. Hernandez Jr. and Gabaldon had previously defeated Aaron Baumann in the Democratic primary. 

Also Read: Republican AGs sue US agency over LGBTQ school guidance

Daniel Hernandez Jr. is the co-founder of the LGBTQ Caucus in Arizona. He is one of the three openly gay members of the Arizona State Legislature alongside Caesar Chavez and Robert Meza. Daniel endorsed a 2016 ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona. 

Daniel describes himself as pragmatic and has expressed willingness to collaborate with the Republicans.