Phoenix Union board member steps down amid calls for his resignation

PHOENIX — Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board member Jeremiah Cota submitted his resignation on Friday amid calls for him to step down.

More than 600 community members signed a recent petition calling for his ouster after he attended a holiday party thrown by Republicans for National Renewal, a far-right political group that Arizona Mirror and Arizona Republic have said has ties to white nationalism and white supremacy.

Cota was also involved in controversy in August after he recited the Lord’s Prayer instead of delivering the district’s land acknowledgment before a board meeting, which is not permitted.

“When a board member’s actions suggest comfort with groups tied to hate and exclusion, it shakes confidence in their ability to represent all students,” the petition said.

What did Jerimiah Cota say while resigning from Phoenix Union board?

Cota announced his resignation on X, saying, “It’s unfortunate this board and district continued unfounded and baseless attacks against me. Yet here we are.”

Last night, I officially submitted my resignation as a Phoenix Union High District Governing Board Member @PhoenixUnion to be effective today.

It's unfortunate this board and district continued unfounded and baseless attacks against me. Yet here we are.

Read full statement 👇 pic.twitter.com/HQiI0rQpTN

— Jeremiah Cota ✝️🇺🇸 (@jeremiahcota) February 13, 2026

His statement described a what Cota called a pattern of harassment against him that caused “damage and irrefutable harm.” He signed off by wishing the board and the district well.

The Phoenix Union High School District serves more than 23,000 students across 23 schools, with over 90% of its students identifying as a minority.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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