State Rep. Jennifer Longdon, a Democrat who represents north-central Phoenix, will resign from the state Legislature effective Friday.
Longdon, a three-term councilor, announced his resignation on Thursday.
A “great job opportunity” working on health policy drew her away from Congress, she told The Arizona Republic. Her new employer, a nonprofit organization, had not yet announced her position, so Ms. Longdon deferred to her employer to do so first.
Longdon is a leading gun control advocate in Congress, drawing on his experience as a victim of gun violence who left him paralyzed from the chest down and uses a wheelchair. Her efforts on gun control have stalled with support from the Republican majority.
In his resignation letter, Longdon thanked voters for their support and praised the bipartisan efforts in Congress to improve Arizona.
“May the spirit of collaboration endure and lead to continued achievements that benefit the great state of Arizona and its diverse communities,” Longdon wrote.
Her Democratic colleagues praised her as “one of Arizona's most capable and caring leaders, both inside and outside of Congress.” They highlighted her work on gun violence prevention and disability rights advocacy.
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Longdon served as assistant House minority leader in 2021-22. She becomes the fifth lawmaker to resign from Congress during her current two-year term.
Members of the Legislative District 5 Board of Precincts must nominate three people to serve Longdon's term, which runs through early 2025. Their selection will be up to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, who will appoint one of the three members.
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