A routine endorsement questionnaire sent by the University of Arizona College Democrats sparked a public dispute with a state lawmaker and a wave of threatening messages directed at the student group.

The group emailed candidates across the state earlier this month, asking them to respond to questions on issues members cared about and to indicate whether they were interested in an endorsement.

UACD Political Affairs Director Cooper Long said the group began sending out the questionnaire after the 2024 election.

"We're kind of a newer club. We just got started … right after the 2024 election, and basically, in the past, endorsed city council candidates," Long said. "We just attend their events and help campaign with them and support them. Just to be fair, we send it to every single one. We ask every candidate running for the same position the same questions."

The questionnaire asked candidates to provide a short bio and an explanation of their stances on three issues: affordability, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and border enforcement, and Israel and the war in Gaza.

Instead of receiving a response from Rep. Alma Hernandez, they found themselves the subjects of a post on her Instagram account and X page.

Hernandez, a Democrat, currently represents Legislative District 20 in the Arizona House of Representatives, which covers central Tucson and is considered the most left-leaning district in the state. She is running in the July primary for the district's state Senate seat.

"Shame on The University of Arizona College Dems for sending out an endorsement Questionnaire which now includes a question on (Israel and Palestine) as a litmus test," Hernandez wrote in the posts. "That has no place in the Democratic Party playbook, and I won't compromise my values for any endorsement."

Hernandez wrote in the caption of her posts that shootings are taking place in synagogues across the country and other violent attacks on the Jewish community are occurring, saying she did not agree with the wording in the questionnaire.

"No, thanks. Go endorse any fool who will take it," Hernandez wrote. "Sincerely, a very proud Jewish democratic elected official who is not afraid to call out this (garbage.)"

Hernandez and her team did not respond to Tucson Spotlight's request for comment.

Hernandez limited comments on the posts, preventing UACD from replying and defending itself, according to Long.

Many commenters agreed with Hernandez, calling the wording and messaging of UACD's email antisemitic.

Hernandez posted to her accounts March 12, with UACD responding March 15. Long said the group made its own post as soon as members saw what Hernandez said on social media, adding that it took several days for someone to bring the posts to their attention.

Long said the group had discussed the wording of the questions beforehand, noting that the specific section Hernandez objected to was written by a Jewish member of their board.

"A member of our board who is Jewish (is) the one who actually phrased that specific part, so that's why it was kind of confusing for us when she called that part antisemitic," Long said.

Long said the group has been receiving hateful and threatening messages in the weeks since Hernandez posted.

"We actually have received Islamophobic emails from people who saw Alma's post (and an) email targeting specific members of our club," Long said.

Long said UACD's goal moving forward is to work to prevent Hernandez from being reelected. In its Instagram response, UACD said Hernandez's post lacked professionalism and was concerning behavior for an elected state representative.

The group called on elected officials and candidates to encourage, respect and support the next generation of leaders, while also condemning what it called baseless attacks by Hernandez.

Long said Hernandez's response was particularly concerning given the power she holds as an elected official, and that he hoped other officials would take note of how such behavior reflects on them.

"LD20, which is the Legislative District she's running in, is the most left-leaning legislative district in the state," Long said. "I just think that this behavior is not very becoming of this candidate, because we could easily get a better representative for this district."

UACD said it hopes elected officials and candidates will be more mindful of the power they hold when publicly calling out constituents, particularly student groups.

"I just feel like there's a big power imbalance between our student group and an elected official in the state of Arizona," Long said. "I just think that she should be aware that she created a space for her own constituents to be online targets for hate and Islamophobia."

In the weeks since Hernandez's post, UACD has endorsed Attorney General Kris Mayes and Associated Students of the University of Arizona Student Body President candidate Bhavya Makkar, who is running to replace graduating senior Adriana Grijalva.

Emma LaPointe is a journalism, political science and German Studies major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at emma.m.lapointe@gmail.com.

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