AZ Political Podcast: New chair of state Democratic Party talks top priorities, rebuilding trust

Charlene Fernandez spent more than a decade working for a member of Congress.

She went on to win a seat on a local school board, served multiple terms in the Arizona House — ultimately as minority leader — and later joined the Biden administration.

But did all that prepare her for the heavy lift of chairing the Arizona Democratic Party?

New leader of Arizona Democratic Party launches voting effort

Fernandez is my guest on this week’s AZ Political Podcast. She started the job of party chair only recently, and she’s already moving quickly.

She’s been mending fences after a rocky period, rebuilding trust with some of Arizona’s top elected officials, all while launching an ambitious effort to register more Democratic voters statewide.

She’s also guided by the counsel of one of her biggest mentors, the late Arizona Congressman Ed Pastor. He was her boss for several years, and his trademark grace earned respect across party lines.

Hear how she plans to lead, heal divisions, and grow the party on this week’s AZ Political Podcast.

The AZ Political Podcast is available at KTAR.com, the KTAR News app and everywhere you get your podcasts.

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