Arizona House Democratic Leader Andrés Cano intends to resign when the current legislative session ends and will attend Harvard University, he announced on Saturday.
The 31-year-old legislator will begin his graduate degree program this summer at the Harvard Kennedy School.
“As a first-generation college graduate, never did I think an opportunity like this would come my way,” Cano said in a statement. “Put simply: I want to do more for the people of Arizona and our nation—and I want to be prepared for my next chapter in public service.”
Cano is a Tucsonan native who was raised by his single mother and is a first-generation college graduate. He graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State & Local Government program.
Cano was first elected in 2018, and again in 2020 and 2022. The House Democratic Caucus picked him to be the minority leader last year.
“As a student, I recognized that my passion was in fighting for people from my district who needed voice and who needed meaningful representation here,” Cano said in a statement.
Cano is also an advocate for low-income individuals and immigrants, and currently is the director of the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund, an initiative of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona. He plans to step down from the role in June.
From 2012 to 2019, Cano served as a policy advisor to the late Richard Elias, former chairman of the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
After his announcement, Cano said he is committed to “seeing the state budget process move forward until the end.”
Current Board Chair Adelita Grijalva congratulated Cano on his acceptance to the Harvard program after seeing the young Democratic leader begin his political path when he started as an intern for the county at 14 years old.
“Andrés has understood since he was a child that the power of government can be best used to provide opportunity and ensure fairness,” Grijalva said in a statement. “He’s a force of nature and Harvard better get ready; a whirlwind of positive energy is about to blow into Cambridge.”
Cano’s early political challenges were against Gov. Doug Ducey and GOP lawmakers who wanted to cut state income tax rates, which Cano insisted did little for lower-income residents.
“Instead of giving a tax break to mom, this bill puts more money into the hands of millionaires and billionaires who don’t have to worry about where or how their child is sleeping, what they’re eating, or how they’ll pay this month’s bills,” he said at the time.
After Cano officially leaves office, the Democratic precinct committeemen in Legislative District 20 will nominate three individuals to replace him for the balance of the term, which runs through 2024. The final decision is up to the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
“I am so happy for Andrés on this incredible opportunity for him. I wish him success in this next phase of his public service journey,” she said.
