Shawnté Rothschild for Arizona Democratic Party Chair
Advancing Progressive Values & Empowering Grassroots Voices
Shawnté Rothschild is running for State Party Chair to bring bold, inclusive leadership that energizes Arizona Democrats. She is committed to building a stronger, unified Democratic Party – one that fights for social justice, protects democracy, and engages every community from the ground up. Join the movement to strengthen our party and win for Arizona’s future.
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Meet Shawnté Rothschild
Shawnté Rothschild is a dedicated educator, community advocate, and Democratic leader with deep Arizona roots. A mother of three adult children and proud Arizonan, Shawnté has spent her life fighting for people – working to ensure everyone feels safe being who they are. She built a career in service, including roles in education and corporate leadership, while always volunteering to uplift her community. Outside of work, Shawnté’s volunteer record is extensive, from co-chairing the Arizona chapter of GLSEN (a national LGBTQ+ youth advocacy organization) to mentoring young leaders – all part of her commitment to “create a better Arizona” through persistent grassroots leadership.
As a Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board Member, Shawnté has firsthand experience improving education and championing youth. She ran for the school board to bring innovation and equity to local schools and won the election by listening to parents, teachers, and students. Shawnté also serves in Democratic Party leadership at every level – she is a Vice Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, a Vice Chair in the Pinal County Democrats, and the Second Vice Chair for her legislative district (LD16). This breadth of experience, from local office to state party, has prepared her to lead with both vision and know-how.
Shawnté’s personal story drives her passion for inclusive leadership. She identifies as a queer woman of color and understands the importance of representation and allyship in our party. “I was raised with the understanding that as a person of color and a woman, I would have to work harder and be better,” she has said, describing the challenges she’s overcome. Those experiences fuel her fight for equality and diversity. Shawnté would rather focus on why she advocates for marginalized communities than on labels– because for her, it’s about action. As she puts it, “If you feed someone a fish, they’re satisfied for a day. If you teach them to fish, they’re satisfied for a lifetime. For me, legislative change is teaching people to fish.” In other words, empowering others through policy and grassroots action is at the heart of Shawnté’s philosophy.
With her lifelong commitment to service and progressive values, Shawnté has proven she will roll up her sleeves for the community. She has consistently demonstrated dedication – from enhancing educational outcomes as a teacher and mentor, to organizing for voting rights and LGBTQ+ equality. Shawnté’s blend of real-world experience, compassion, and courage to stand up for what’s right has earned her a reputation as a bold voice for change. Now, she’s ready to bring that energy and experience to lead Arizona Democrats as State Party Chair.
Advancing Progressive Values
Advancing Progressive Values
Advancing Progressive Values
Shawnté will ensure the Arizona Democratic Party remains firmly committed to progressive principles that reflect the diverse needs of Arizonans. That means standing up for voting rights, quality public education, affordable health care, reproductive freedom, and equality for all communities. She believes our party must boldly champion the values of justice, opportunity, and dignity – not just during elections, but every day in our advocacy and messaging. Under her leadership, the party will amplify these values and hold candidates and elected officials accountable to them.
Grassroots Empowerment
Advancing Progressive Values
Advancing Progressive Values
“Grassroots engagement is the lifeblood of our party,” Shawnté says. As Chair, she will prioritize building and strengthening relationships with local communities and volunteers in every county. Shawnté knows that real change starts at the neighborhood level. She will invest in training and supporting precinct committee persons, volunteers, and local Democratic clubs, giving them the tools and resources to organize effectively. From rural towns to urban centers, every Democrat should feel included and empowered. Shawnté’s plan includes year-round field organizing, listening tours, and a robust presence in historically underrepresented areas. By enhancing grassroots engagement, she will grow our base and energize voters to turn out and vote across the ballot.
Inclusive & Accountable Leadership
Inclusive & Accountable Leadership
Inclusive & Accountable Leadership
Shawnté envisions a Democratic Party that genuinely looks like Arizona. She will foster inclusive leadership by uplifting the voices of women, communities of color, LGBTQ+ Arizonans, young people, and working families within the party. Having broken barriers herself, she is committed to breaking more – recruiting diverse candidates and party officials, and making sure everyone has a seat at the table. Shawnté also understands that transparency and integrity in party operations are critical to building trust. As Chair, she will promote open communication, ethical fundraising, and accountability in decision-making. Arizona Democrats deserve a party that is both inclusive in its makeup and principled in its conduct, and Shawnté will deliver on that promise.
Winning Elections & Building Power
Inclusive & Accountable Leadership
Inclusive & Accountable Leadership
At the end of the day, our party’s mission is to win elections that improve people’s lives. Shawnté will bring a campaign organizer’s mentality to the Chair’s office. She plans to modernize the party’s voter outreach strategy – harnessing data-driven targeting, digital media, and old-fashioned door knocking alike – to reach every possible voter. A key priority is to support Democratic candidates at all levels, from city councils and school boards to the state legislature and Congress. Shawnté will work closely with county parties and caucuses to identify strong candidates and provide them with training, resources, and early support. By uniting all parts of the party and focusing on common goals, she will build the infrastructure needed to flip critical seats. Additionally, Shawnté is passionate about campaign finance reform and reducing the influence of big money in politics, a stance she’s underscored by supporting initiatives to ban dark money from primaries. As Chair, she’ll continue to advocate for a people-powered party that stands up to special interests and puts voters first. The result will be a Democratic Party in Arizona that not only stands on principle but also wins elections, from the statewide races to every local district.
