Arizona Political Leader Alfredo Gutierrez Dies at 79

Alfredo Gutierrez, a prominent Arizona political leader, civil rights advocate, and migrant rights activist, has died at age 79 from complications of esophageal cancer. Born in Miami, Arizona, to a union railroad worker and an undocumented immigrant mother, Gutierrez became a Vietnam War veteran and a leader of student protests at Arizona State University. He co-founded influential organizations Chicanos Por La Causa and Valle Del Sol, and was elected to the Arizona Senate in 1972, serving 14 years and holding both majority and minority leader roles. Gutierrez helped create the Arizona Department of Transportation and AHCCCS, the state's Medicaid program, and was a vocal critic of Arizona’s SB 1070 immigration law. He completed his bachelor's degree from ASU in May 2024 and remained active in advocacy until his death. Leaders across the political spectrum, including former Governor Jan Brewer and Governor Katie Hobbs, praised his lifelong dedication to justice and public service.