Catherine Miranda

Catherine Miranda (born October 5, 1964) is an American politician and former lawmaker running forthe Arizona House of Representatives in the 27th electoral district.

Catherine Miranda
Member of the Arizona Senate
from the 27th district
In office
January 5, 2015 – January 14, 2019
Preceded byLeah Landrum Taylor
Succeeded byRebecca Rios
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 27th district
In office
2013–2015
Serving with Ruben Gallego
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 16th district
In office
2011–2013
Serving with Ruben Gallego
Personal details
Born (1964-10-05) October 5, 1964
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
  • Roberto Sanchez
  • Ben Miranda
    (
    died 2013)
ResidencePhoenix
Alma materArizona State University
Northern Arizona University
OccupationTeacher
Websitemirandaforarizona.com

Miranda previously served in the Arizona Senate, representing the 27th electoral district from 2015 to 2019. She was a member of the Arizona House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015. In 2018, Miranda ran in the Democratic primary for Arizona's 7th congressional district in 2018, challenging incumbent Democrat Ruben Gallego, but lost the nomination.[1]

Miranda was first elected in the 16th district, the same seat that her late husband, Ben Miranda, had held.[2] She was then redistricted to the 27th district. Miranda served on the Roosevelt School District school board and cites education cuts as the reason she ran for a seat in the state legislature.[3]

Early Life

Miranda was born in Southern Phoenix, Arizona. She lived in Arizona her entire life, attending Middle school at Lassen and High School at East High. When she went off to college she attended Arizona State University to obtain her Bachelor's degree and then she attended Northern Arizona University where she obtained her Master's degree. She worked as teacher in Roosevelt school district in Arizona and went on to be a School Administrator in the Roosevelt/Cartwright/Washington districts. After that she served as a School Board member in the Roosevelt district before finally moving on to politics.

Awards
  • John S. Martinez Award: Awarded by National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators and recognizes a Hispanic legislature who has show strong leadership and made a significant impact.
  • Valle Del Sol Leadership Award: Recognizes Leadership in Arizona, especially those who go out of their way for strong legislative work
  • Champion of Education Award: Received in 2017
  • Friend of Arizona's Cities and Towns Recognition: Awarded by League of Arizona Cities and Towns
  • Recognition from the Governor of El Salvador: Awarded for her leadership in preserving Temporary Protected Status
  • Golden Apple Award: Awarded by Arizona Parents for Education

Elections
  • 2018 Miranda lost to Ruben Gallego in the Democratic primary for the US House of Representatives Arizona 7th District. Ruben Gallego defeated Miranda with 74.8% of the vote.[4]
  • 2016 Miranda defeated her step daughter, Maritza Saenz, in the Democratic primary. Catherine Miranda won with 56 percent of the vote.[5]
  • 2014 Miranda defeated Aaron Marquez in the Democratic primary. Miranda defeated Natalie Taswell in the general election with 74% of the vote.[6]
  • 2012 Miranda won re-election in the 2012 election for Arizona House of Representatives District 27. She and incumbent Ruben Gallego defeated Reginald Bolding in the Democratic primary on August 28, 2012. She won the general election with 26,683 votes.[7]
  • 2010 Miranda faced incumbent Cloves Campbell Jr., Sandra Gonzales, Cristy Lopez, Ruben Gallego and Jim Munoz in the August 24 primary. Miranda and Gallego advanced with 3,476 and 4,149 votes, respectively. They then defeated Republican Michael Gular and Green Angel Torres in the general election with Miranda receiving 19,197 votes.[8][9]

Electoral history
U.S. House of Representatives - Arizona 7th District Democratic Primary Election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ruben Gallego (inc.) 32,231 74.80
Democratic Catherine Miranda 10,856 25.20
Arizona Senate 27th District General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Miranda (inc.) 40,085 81.04
Green Angel Torres 9,381 18.96
Arizona Senate 27th District Democratic Primary Election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Miranda (inc.) 6,049 56.04
Democratic Maritza Saenz 4,746 43.96
Arizona Senate 27th District General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Miranda 17,917 74.3
Republican Natalie Taswell 6,198 25.7
Arizona House of Representatives 27th District Democratic Primary Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ruben Gallego (inc.) 4,996 56.71
Democratic Catherine Miranda (inc.) 4,800 54.48
Democratic Reginald Bolding 3,334 37.84
Arizona House of Representatives 27th District Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Miranda (inc.) 28,683 40.98
Democratic Ruben Gallego (inc.) 27,522 39.32
Republican Daniel Coleman 10,088 14.41
Green Angel Torres 3,702 5.29
Arizona House of Representatives 16th District Democratic Primary Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ruben Gallego 4,149 26.12
Democratic Catherine Miranda 3,476 21.88
Democratic Cloves Campbell 3,182 20.03
Democratic Jim Munoz, Jr. 2,281 14.36
Democratic Sandra Gonzales 1,955 12.31
Democratic Cristy Lopez 842 5.30
Arizona House of Representatives 16th District Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Miranda 19,197 39.46
Democratic Ruben Gallego 18,365 37.75
Republican Michael Gular 8,551 17.58
Green Angel Torres 2,532 5.21

Political positions

One of Catherine Miranda's top priorities is on education in Arizona. She supports state governments providing college students with financial aid and allowing immigrants who graduate from Arizona high schools to be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities. She also believes that there needs to be an increase in government spending for K-12 education and a slight increase in spending for post-secondary education.[10] Miranda voted against expanding school vouchers in Arizona.[11]

Miranda supports the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA as well as a pathway to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants known as Dreamers. She also believes that the issue of border security needs to framed in terms economic impact.[12]

In her time in the Arizona Legislature, Miranda has crossed party lines to vote with Republicans on several occasions. During the primary election for the US House of Representatives for the Arizona 7th District, incumbent Rep. Ruben Gallego accused her of being a Republican stating "there is a Republican running - it’s Catherine Miranda".[13] She also made headlines when she endorsed Republican Doug Ducey for Governor in 2014[14], despite previously endorsing the Democratic candidate, Fred DuVal[15]. Additionally, she endorsed Republican Michele Reagan for Arizona Secretary of State over the Democratic contender, Terry Goddard.[16]

On fiscal issues, she opposes deregulation of the private sector and supports expanding unemployment benefits.[17] In 2016, the fiscally conservative Americans for Prosperity gave her a rating of 30% and the fiscally conservative Goldwater Institute gave her a 39% score in 2013.[18]

Miranda supports enhancing background checks and regulations when it comes to gun ownership. She does not support arming teachers and instead focused on the problem of third party arms dealers. [19]

Catherine Miranda described herself as pro-life in 2010 and is against abortion due to her religious beliefs, being classified as "anti-choice" by NARAL Pro-Choice Arizona.[20] She was endorsed by Arizona Right to Life in her 2016 election.[21] She is one of a few pro-life Democrats and she sometimes crosses the aisle to vote with Republicans regarding abortion. In 2018, she was the only Democrat to break with her party and vote with Republicans to increase reporting requirements for abortion providers as well as to allow stored embryos to be used by one partner even after a divorce.[22] She also voted to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.[18] However, she voted against allowing employers to refuse to provide birth control and contraception health care coverage to employees.[23]

In 2014, Planned Parenthood, which supports legal access to abortion, gave Miranda a rating of 67% for voting in line with their positions and she received a 40% rating in 2016; conversely, the Center for Arizona Policy, which opposes legal abortion, gave Miranda a 2017 score of 20% and a 2016 score of 50% based on their positions.[24]

In 2010, Miranda responded to a questionnaire answering that she is opposed to same-sex marriage, but also responded that she supports civil unions.[17] She also answered questions saying that she supports non-discrimination protections for LGBT persons including by adding gender identity and sexual orientation to Arizona's anti-discrimination laws.[17] Stonewall Democrats of Arizona, a partisan Democratic group in support of same-sex marriage and other gay rights, gave Miranda a rating of 50% in 2014[24]

Family

Miranda's husband, Roberto Sanchez, ran for a state House seat in the 27th legislative district in 2018. She has two children and was formerly married to Ben Miranda who died in 2013. Miranda's nephew, Cipriano-Gabriel Miranda, ran for Miranda's open state Senate seat in 2018. Miranda's brother-in-law, Richard Miranda, was elected to the state house in 1998 and served until 2012.

Parents

Her father, Robert Hernandez was a Korean War Veteran and worked in construction. While working in construction he helped to build what is now known as the KROC center. Her mother, Ysabel Hernandez worked at AirResearch, and Aerospace technology company. She died from breast cancer when Catherine Miranda was only 17 years old.

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References
  1. "Arizona state Sen. Catherine Miranda announces run for US Congress". KTAR. January 2, 2018.
  2. Bierman, Breann (15 November 2013). "Longtime AZ political leader Ben Miranda dies at 64". CBS5AZ. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  3. Zepeda, Allison (3 February 2011). "New lawmaker profile: Rep. Catherine H. Miranda, D-Phoenix". AZCapitolTimes.com. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  4. https://azsos.gov/sites/default/files/2018%200910%20Signed%20Statewide%20Canvass.pdf
  5. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/politicalinsider/2018/01/14/miranda-dynasty-family-aims-seats-arizona-legislature/1027007001/
  6. "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2014 General Election November 4, 2014" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  7. http://recorder.maricopa.gov/electionarchives/2012/11-06-2012%20Final%20Summary%20Report.pdf
  8. http://recorder.maricopa.gov/electionarchives/2010/08-24-2010%20Final%20Summary%20Report.pdf
  9. http://recorder.maricopa.gov/electionarchives/2010/11-02-2010%20Final%20Summary%20Report.pdf
  10. "Catherine Miranda's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)". votesmart.com. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  11. "State Sen. Catherine Miranda under investigation over school-voucher petitions". azcentral. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  12. "Catherine Miranda's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)". votesmart.com. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  13. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/08/25/phoenix-primary-outspoken-democrat-rep-gallego-state-sen-miranda/1002517002/
  14. "I am a female Hispanic Democrat and I am voting for Doug Ducey". Arizona Capitol Times. October 8, 2014.
  15. https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2014/10/03/catherine-miranda-backs-doug-ducey-after-early-fred-duval-endorsement-az-governor/
  16. https://www.azmirror.com/blog/former-lawmaker-miranda-seeks-return-to-legislature/
  17. "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  18. "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  19. "Catherine Miranda's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)". votesmart.com. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  20. "10 Things Every Voter Should Know About Catherine Miranda". Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona. November 3, 2014.
  21. "Arizona Right to Life | ENDORSEMENTS". Arizona Right to Life. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  22. Press, Associated. "Senate OKs New Abortion Reporting Bill". Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  23. "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  24. "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
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