Local Democrats censure Rep. Lydia Hernandez over GOP votes, box cutter incident

The Democratic Party of Legislative District 24 formally censured Arizona state Rep. Lydia Hernandez, accusing the Maryvale lawmaker of a pattern of voting with Republicans and provoking a security disruption at a grieving West Valley high school.

The censure resolution marks a rare rebuke of a sitting lawmaker by her own district party and comes just weeks before Hernandez faces a contested Democratic primary.

A box cutter brought into a high school

Among the issues listed in the censure is reference to a August 2025 box cutter incident at Maryvale High School, a week after a 16-year-old boy was fatally stabbed there by a fellow student.

According to the Phoenix Unified School district, Hernandez recorded herself entering campus security, telling security staff that she was testing the school’s weapon detection systems.

A box cutter was found in the bag of an unidentified woman who accompanied Hernandez.

Hernandez denied the school district’s version of events.

A documented history of crossing party lines

The LD 24 Democrats’ censure resolution goes beyond the Maryvale incident.

It accuses Hernandez of voting with Republicans more than 170 times, including on bills that the party says would have curtailed reproductive rights and opened the door to a constitutional convention.

She also endorsed Republican candidates, including former Gov. Doug Ducey and former Secretary of State Michele Reagan, over their Democratic opponents.

The censure document claims that Hernandez’s service on the Cartwright School Board violates state law.

The censure also accuses Hernandez of denying the existence of voter suppression.

Lydia Hernandez responds: ‘One of the greatest honors of my life’

In a social media post published hours after the censure became public, Hernandez said she looks forward to stay in her elected office.

“Serving Legislative District 24 in the Arizona House of Representatives has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” she wrote. “I am grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me and look forward to continuing our work together.”

Hernandez did not directly address the censure in the post.

What comes next?

A copy of the censure resolution will be entered into the official records of LD 24 Democrats and transmitted to the Arizona Democratic Party.

The resolution does not carry the force of law and does not remove Hernandez from office, but it represents a formal statement of no confidence from the party organization in her own district, a significant political blow heading into a primary election.

Hernandez faces political newcomers Alberto Flores, Lisbeth Arescurenaga and Rosa Cantu in the July 21 primary election. The winner of that race will face Republican Delores McLaughlin in the November 3 election.

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