Senator Sally Gonzales

Sally Ann Gonzales, born on October 2, 1957, in Brawley, California, is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Arizona State Senate. She has been representing District 20 since January 9, 2023. Before this, she represented District 3 from 2019 to 2023.

Gonzales also served in the Arizona House of Representatives, representing District 3 from 2013 to 2019. She previously served consecutively from January 10, 2011, until January 14, 2013, in the District 27 seat, and non-consecutively from January 1997 until January 2001 in the District 20 seat.

She was raised in the Yaqui community of Guadalupe, Arizona with her ten sisters and brothers. She is married to longtime Pascua Yaqui tribal councilman Luis Gonzales with whom she has five daughters and 22 grandchildren.

In terms of education, Gonzales earned her BA in elementary education from Arizona State University and her MA in multicultural education from the University of Arizona.

Over the years, Gonzales has participated in several elections. In 2014, Gonzales and Macario Saldate were unopposed in the general election. In 2012, redistricted to District 3, Gonzales and Representative Saldate were both unopposed for the August 28, 2012 Democratic Primary. Gonzales and Saldate were unopposed for the November 6, 2012 General election, with Gonzales taking the first seat.

In 2010, with incumbent Representatives Olivia Cajero Bedford running for Arizona Senate and Phil Lopes retiring and leaving both of the district’s seats open, Gonzales ran in the eight-way August 24, 2010 Democratic Primary, placing first. In the five-way November 2, 2010 General election, Gonzales took the first seat.

In 2002, redistricted to District 27, Gonzales ran in the six-way September 10, 2002 Democratic Primary, placing third behind Olivia Cajero Bedford and Phil Lopes, who were unopposed for the November 5, 2002 General election.

Gonzales ran for re-election to the Arizona State Senate to represent District 20 and won in the general election on November 8, 2022.