JoAnna Mendoza’s origin story is not the kind that usually produces congressional candidates. She grew up in a rural farming community in Pinal County, Arizona, in a family that relied on food stamps and Section 8 housing to get by. At eight years old, she was working alongside her parents in the cotton fields. At 17, she enlisted in the Navy. By the time she was done serving her country, after 20 years in uniform, including time as a Marine drill instructor and deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, she came home to Arizona to raise her son Aidan as a single mom by choice.
Now she’s running to represent Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, a toss-up seat currently held by Republican Juan Ciscomani. If she wins, she would be the first woman Marine veteran ever elected to Congress, and one of the first Latinas elected to Congress from Arizona. She’s already earned endorsements from Sen. Mark Kelly and former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, and Cook Political Report has rated the race a toss-up.
Her campaign platform is founded on lived experience, knowing what can and has made a difference for herself and her family over the years. She’s focused on affordable housing, lower costs for working families, expanded healthcare access, and support for veterans. She calls herself a “Mom on a Mission.” Given her resume, that might be underselling it a little.
We asked her what it looks like to run for Congress when you’re doing it solo.
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The quick stats
- Location: Southern Arizona
- Office they’re running for: Running to Represent AZ-06 in Congress
- Kids’ ages: 10 year old son
- First time running?: First time running for federal office! (Ran for the state legislature in 2020)
- Website
What does a typical campaign day look like for you — and where does your family fit into it?
Running for Congress as a mom is hard. It means juggling early mornings, baseball practice, and long days on the campaign trail. My son loves to help in any way he can when he tags along with me on the campaign trail — and you better believe I put him to work!
What’s something about running for office that you didn’t expect — and that you wish someone had warned you about?
Like so many parents, I know how tough it is to balance everything. And as a single mom, this balance is extra difficult. Making sure that your support system is in place is critical for not only your kids, but for your own peace of mind, too.
Has being a mother shaped how you think about the issues you’re running on? If so, how?
Absolutely. Everything I do is for the future of not only my own son, but for the future of all of our families. I’m a Mom on a Mission to ensure that he can go further in life than I did and that he has the opportunity to fulfill his version of the American Dream. Too many families across Southern Arizona and the country can’t afford rent, let alone buy a house. I want to make sure that my son doesn’t have to choose between buying food or medicine. Being a mom also means I want to ensure our communities are safe. We need to make sure our border is secure, our police have the resources they need to serve our communities, and that we’re working together across all levels of government to give our families a fair shot.
What has been the hardest sacrifice your family has made for this campaign — and how have you handled that as a parent?
Being apart during long trips and missing events like my son’s baseball games is really difficult. But I always make the time to spend time together when we can, even if it’s just sitting on the couch watching silly movies. One thing I’ve learned is to never take the time you have with your family for granted.
What would you want your kids to take away from watching you do this?
I want my son to know that he has the power to make a difference. I often take my son with me on the campaign trail to show him what it looks like to fight for what you believe in. I hope that he can take these lessons to know that he can truly change the world.
JoAnna is endorsed by Vote Mama, an organization dedicated to breaking down the structural barriers that keep moms out of office — and building the kind of political power that actually reflects the realities of American family life. Learn more about JoAnna here.
