ICYMI: Mark Robert Gordon announces campaign for Congress in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District

Gordon launches with endorsements from more than a dozen state and local elected officials

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Mark Robert Gordon on Thursday announced his candidacy for Congress in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District. 

AZCentral was the first to break the story on July 10. Read the full article here.

Gordon’s campaign has gained early momentum with endorsements from a growing list of local and state elected officials. Here’s what some had to say:

“This race is our chance to replace an incumbent steeped in scandal and out of touch with our community. Mark Robert Gordon brings the integrity, experience, and determination to win this race,” said Mitzi Epstein, Arizona State Senator and former Arizona Senate Democratic Leader. “As a small business leader, he knows how to grow economic opportunity and unite people to get things done. With our democracy under attack by the Trump administration, we need a leader who will stand up and protect the rights of all Arizonans. Mark is the leader AZ-01 deserves.”

“Mark has been fighting alongside us for voting rights, disability rights, and for our communities,” said Brian Garcia, Arizona State Representative. “Democracy and our economy are crashing down around us without real representation. I’m supporting Mark because we can’t afford to wait when our families are hurting now.”

“I’ve watched Mark lead in our community for years, always standing firm in his values,” said David Lujan, former Arizona State Senator and former Arizona House Democratic Leader. “With Donald Trump attacking democracy, the rule of law, and hardworking Arizona families, we need someone we can trust to fight for us. That’s why I’m supporting Mark, because unlike David Schweikert, he’ll stand up to Trump and put Arizonans first.”

Current list of endorsements:

• Mitzi Epstein, Arizona State Senator and former Arizona Senate Democratic Leader

• Brian Garcia, Arizona State Representative

• David Lujan, former Arizona State Senator and former Arizona House Democratic Leader

• Patty Contreras, Arizona State Representative and former Arizona Democratic Party Vice Chair

• Jackie Thrasher, former Arizona State Representative

• Joe Eddie Lopez, former Arizona State Representative and State Senator, and Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Member

• Dr. Linda Thor, Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board Member

• Randolph Stephen Lumm, former Maricopa Community Colleges Board President

• Dennis Kavanaugh, former Vice Mayor, City of Mesa

• Jenn Duff, Mesa City Council Member

• Lupe Conchas, Glendale City Council Member and former Arizona Democratic Party Vice Chair

• Deborah Cross, Phoenix Union High School Board Member

• Signa Oliver, Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board Member

• Jacob George, Balsz Elementary School District Governing Board Member

• Jeff Fortney, Cave Creek School District Governing Board Member

• Matt Jewett, former Creighton Elementary District Board Member

• Tim Stringham, former Maricopa County Recorder candidate

Background: 

Gordon grew up in north central Phoenix, the son of a disabled World War II veteran and a public school teacher. He attended Phoenix public schools and put himself through Princeton, Columbia Law and Harvard by working part-time jobs and earning scholarships.

For more than 30 years, Gordon has worked as a voting rights advocate and attorney, leading voter protection efforts nationwide and founding a voting rights organization dedicated to electing pro-democracy leaders. He has even taken that commitment abroad, delivering humanitarian aid to war-torn Ukraine on three missions.

A small business owner and proud union member for more than three decades, Gordon serves on the Democratic National Committee’s Small Business Council, where he advocates for policies that support workers and small businesses. He also serves on the Arizona AFL-CIO and Maricopa Area Labor Federation boards.

The Democratic primary election will be held August 4, 2026.

For more information about the campaign, visit ElectMarkRobertGordon.com and follow the campaign on X, BlueSky, Facebook, and Instagram.

Visit our media page to stay up to date with campaign news, press releases, and media highlights.

Media Contact:

Erik Montaño

Campaign Manager

erik@electmarkrobertgordon.com

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Mark Robert Gordon launches campaign for Congress in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District

Community and elected leaders rally behind Gordon as the strongest, most experienced Democrat to defend democracy and defeat David Schweikert

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Mark Robert Gordon, a longtime voting and civil rights advocate, Democratic leader, and union activist, today officially launched his campaign for Congress in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, which includes northeast Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, and Fountain Hills.

“I’m excited to kick off this campaign with a strong team and community behind us,” Gordon said. “I’m grateful to have the support of respected Arizona leaders who believe it’s time for honest leadership. Shameless Schweikert and his pals in Washington are driving America off the cliff, so I’m standing up like so many other Arizonans to do something about that. Last week, Schweikert voted to cut Medicaid for thousands of our hard-working neighbors, raise everyone’s electric bills, and give a $5 billion gift to the drug companies that will make prescription drugs more expensive for us… all while saddling Arizonans with trillions more in debt. Schweikert sold us out. I’m running for Congress because nothing will change in Washington until we replace hacks like Schweikert.”

Gordon grew up in north central Phoenix, the son of a disabled World War II veteran and a public school teacher. He attended Phoenix public schools and put himself through Princeton, Columbia Law and Harvard by working part-time jobs and earning scholarships.

For more than 30 years, Gordon has worked as a voting rights advocate and attorney, leading voter protection efforts nationwide and founding a voting rights organization dedicated to electing pro-democracy leaders. He has even taken that commitment abroad, delivering humanitarian aid to war-torn Ukraine on three missions.

A small business owner and proud union member for more than three decades, Gordon serves on the Democratic National Committee’s Small Business Council, where he advocates for policies that support workers and small businesses. He also serves on the Arizona AFL-CIO and Maricopa Area Labor Federation boards.

“I was raised to work hard, serve my community and fight for what’s right, and I’ve spent my life doing exactly that,” Gordon said. “I’ve been a Democrat my entire life and made it my mission to fight for everyday people, protect voting rights, and defend democracy at home and abroad. Now I’m running for Congress to finish that fight, for every Arizonan whose future is under attack by Donald Trump and David Schweikert.”

Gordon’s campaign has already earned broad support from community leaders and elected officials.

“This race is our chance to replace an incumbent steeped in scandal and out of touch with our community. Mark Robert Gordon brings the integrity, experience, and determination to win this race,” said Mitzi Epstein, Arizona State Senator and former Arizona Senate Democratic Leader. “As a small business leader, he knows how to grow economic opportunity and unite people to get things done. With our democracy under attack by the Trump administration, we need a leader who will stand up and protect the rights of all Arizonans. Mark is the leader AZ-01 deserves.”

“Mark has been fighting alongside us for voting rights, disability rights, and for our communities,” said Brian Garcia, Arizona State Representative. “Democracy and our economy are crashing down around us without real representation. I’m supporting Mark because we can’t afford to wait when our families are hurting now.”

“I’ve watched Mark lead in our community for years, always standing firm in his values,” said David Lujan, former Arizona State Senator and former Arizona House Democratic Leader. “With Donald Trump attacking democracy, the rule of law, and hardworking Arizona families, we need someone we can trust to fight for us. That’s why I’m supporting Mark, because unlike David Schweikert, he’ll stand up to Trump and put Arizonans first.”

Current list of endorsements:

• Mitzi Epstein, Arizona State Senator and former Arizona Senate Democratic Leader

• Brian Garcia, Arizona State Representative

• David Lujan, former Arizona State Senator and former Arizona House Democratic Leader

• Patty Contreras, Arizona State Representative and former Arizona Democratic Party Vice Chair

• Jackie Thrasher, former Arizona State Representative

• Joe Eddie Lopez, former Arizona State Representative and State Senator, and Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Member

• Dr. Linda Thor, Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board Member

• Randolph Stephen Lumm, former Maricopa Community Colleges Board President

• Dennis Kavanaugh, former Vice Mayor, City of Mesa

• Jenn Duff, Mesa City Council Member

• Lupe Conchas, Glendale City Council Member and former Arizona Democratic Party Vice Chair

• Deborah Cross, Phoenix Union High School Board Member

• Signa Oliver, Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board Member

• Jacob George, Balsz Elementary School District Governing Board Member

• Jeff Fortney, Cave Creek School District Governing Board Member

• Matt Jewett, former Creighton Elementary District Board Member

• Tim Stringham, former Maricopa County Recorder candidate

The Democratic primary election will be held August 4, 2026.

For more information about the campaign, visit ElectMarkRobertGordon.com or follow us on X, BlueSky, Facebook, and Instagram.

Visit our media page to stay up to date with campaign news, press releases, and media highlights.

Media Contact:

Erik Montaño

Campaign Manager

erik@electmarkrobertgordon.com