YIMBY Action✓ Endorses“Emilia is a legislative candidate with the policy know-how and track record to get more housing built in Arizona!”
2026 Midterm Partner Endorsements
Emilia Cortez
Arizona House of Representatives, District 32 · Arizona
Backed byYIMBY Action
What the Guides Said
YIMBY Action✓ EndorsesAbout Emilia Cortez
Emilia Cortez is a Yuma County native, bilingual public affairs professional, and community leader running for Arizona House in Legislative District 23. Her career has spanned education, nonprofit leadership, tribal governance, and economic development, giving her a hands-on understanding of how public decisions affect families, students, workers, and local communities.
Emilia currently serves as an Economic Development Specialist with the Quechan Indian Tribe, where she works on efforts connected to infrastructure, investment, and workforce opportunity. She also brings years of experience building partnerships across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, with prior work in higher education, youth development, outreach, and community engagement.
She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration and later an MBA in Business Administration and management with a Minor in Leadership, and she has served in community leadership roles focused on early childhood, local history and culture, libraries, and regional collaboration. Emilia’s campaign is rooted in the belief that government should not simply speak for people, it should work with them.
From emiliaforazld23.com
Emilia Cortez on Housing and Abundance
“Securing housing, transit, and small business funding through strategic regional partnerships and planning.”