Elaine Aldrete
Candidate for Arizona State Senate – District 16
Arizona · Legislative District 16
Elaine Aldrete won the primary and is the party's nominee for the general election. Ran unopposed in the July 21, 2026 Democratic primary. Faces Republican incumbent T.J. Shope in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Source: aldrete4az.org · Last verified: October 23, 2026
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Statement
Elaine was born and raised in a rural community in New Hampshire. As an adult, she moved to the farming community of Santa Paula, California. In 2018, she moved to Tucson to be near her daughter, who had twin boys a few years later. Elaine is a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, businesswoman, instructor, and community volunteer. She is honest, compassionate, imaginative, dependable, and open-minded. In 2012, using her bachelor's degree and MBA along with her accounting experience, Elaine formed the nonprofit, Teaching Life Choices, Inc. (TLC), which donates books to schools. In 2019, TLC expanded by creating scholarships for low-income college students to buy textbooks. Elaine joined the board of Boxes of Hope in 2023 which helps the unsheltered build a path to stable housing and self-sufficiency. Since 2024, Elaine has been a member of the Governing Board of the Drexel Heights Fire District.
Biography
Elaine Aldrete was raised in a rural community in New Hampshire and later lived in the farming community of Santa Paula, California, before moving to Tucson in 2018 to be near her daughter's family. She holds a bachelor's degree and an MBA and has worked in accounting. In 2012 she founded the nonprofit Teaching Life Choices, Inc., which donates books to schools and later added textbook scholarships for low-income college students. She serves as treasurer of Boxes of Hope, a nonprofit focused on helping unsheltered people move into stable housing, and has served on the Governing Board of the Drexel Heights Fire District since 2024. She is the Post Events Chairperson for her local American Legion post. Her campaign focuses on healthcare access, housing and utility costs, and public schools. Her endorsements include VoteVets, the Sierra Club, Save Our Schools, Attorney General Kris Mayes and U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva. Aldrete ran unopposed in the July 21, 2026 Democratic primary and faces Republican incumbent T.J. Shope in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Positions
Issue Stances
Water Policy
SupportsSupports legislation to keep water and electricity affordable while balancing the needs of residents, farmers and economic growth.
"Our communities and the farmers who feed them deserve water and electricity at affordable prices."
Education Funding
SupportsCriticizes ESA voucher spending as diverting tax dollars from public schools and supports investing in public-school students.
"Investing in our public-school students is investing in our economy."
Border Security & Immigration
No official stance on record.
Housing Affordability
SupportsSupports reforms so seniors on fixed incomes can age in place and families, rather than investors, can buy homes.
"We need meaningful reforms to ensure that our seniors on fixed incomes can age in place and that families, rather than investors, can buy homes."
Election Integrity
No official stance on record.
Healthcare Access
SupportsSays the state must fill gaps left by federal benefit cuts and pledges to work across the aisle on affordable, quality healthcare.
"I am committed to working across the aisle to ensure all Arizonans can access affordable, quality healthcare."
Public Safety & Criminal Justice
No official stance on record.
Energy Policy
No official stance on record.
Economic Development & Jobs
No official stance on record.
Reproductive Rights
No official stance on record.
Transportation & Infrastructure
No official stance on record.
Government Spending & Taxation
No official stance on record.
Legislature
Legislative Voting Record
No voting record on file.
Voting records are only available for candidates who have held legislative office.
Ballot
Ballot Measure Stances
No ballot measure stances on file yet.
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