Arizona Democratic candidate said she supports decriminalizing prostitution

An Arizona Democrat seeking a congressional seat said in a 2020 interview that she supports decriminalizing prostitution to assist transgender individuals facing employment barriers. JoAnna Mendoza, who is running against Rep. " She stated that eliminating discriminatory laws would give people the opportunity to provide for themselves and called for expanded social services and health care access.

Mendoza, a Marine veteran, added that criminalizing people for their circumstances is unnecessary and said more support networks should be available for the LGBTQ community.

Additional positions The candidate also answered "yes" when asked if she would decriminalize petty offenses such as jaywalking or spitting. She said Arizona has a history of laws that target specific groups and that protections are needed to prevent violence or criminalization.

Campaign details Mendoza has raised $5.3 million since launching her campaign in February, according to FEC filings. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee placed her in its "Red to Blue" program, which provides additional resources to competitive candidates.

Arizona's 6th district includes Tucson and has seen multiple close contests in recent cycles. Rep. Juan Ciscomani has held the seat since 2023.