Jamescita Peshlakai
Democratic · AZ · Member of the Arizona State Transportation Board for Transportation District 5
Jamescita Peshlakai is a Navajo public official, former Arizona legislator, and Persian Gulf War veteran running for Arizona State Senate District 6. She served one term in the Arizona House and two terms in the Senate, later worked as the U.S. Department of the Interior's tribal liaison, and joined the Arizona State Transportation Board by June 2024. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Northern Arizona University and served in the U.S. Army from 1989 to 1997.
Track record
Reduce Wealth Gap
· 1 record
Peshlakai sponsored SB 1110, which established Arizona transaction-privilege-tax exemptions for specified business and retail activity involving tribes and reservation commerce; the governor signed it into law.
July 10, 2021For
Source: azleg.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Government Efficiency
· 2 records
At her first recorded Arizona State Transportation Board meeting, Peshlakai participated in the Board's unanimous approval of transportation project modifications and review of the 2025-2029 construction program.
June 6, 2024For
Source: publicmeetings.az.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Peshlakai joined a bipartisan group of Arizona legislators in the official 2018 general-election pamphlet supporting Proposition 125, the public-safety pension adjustment measure.
November 6, 2018For
Source: apps.azsos.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Public Safety and Crime Control
· 2 records
Peshlakai served as vice-chair of the Arizona Legislature's Study Committee on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
October 28, 2020For
Source: azleg.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Peshlakai joined a bipartisan group of Arizona legislators in the official 2018 general-election pamphlet supporting Proposition 125, the public-safety pension adjustment measure.
November 6, 2018For
Source: apps.azsos.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Public Education Quality
· 2 records
Peshlakai supported legislation barring public schools from prohibiting Indigenous students from wearing tribal regalia or culturally significant objects at graduation; the Senate passed it.
April 13, 2021For
Source: kjzz.org · researched July 18, 2026
After years of Peshlakai's legislative and public advocacy, Arizona observed Indigenous Peoples' Day under a gubernatorial proclamation; she had first introduced replacement-holiday legislation in 2013.
October 12, 2020For
Source: cronkitenews.azpbs.org · researched July 18, 2026
Civil Rights
· 4 records
Peshlakai supported legislation barring public schools from prohibiting Indigenous students from wearing tribal regalia or culturally significant objects at graduation; the Senate passed it.
April 13, 2021For
Source: kjzz.org · researched July 18, 2026
Peshlakai sponsored SB 1802, establishing August 14 as National Navajo Code Talkers Day in Arizona; Governor Doug Ducey signed it into law.
March 29, 2021For
Source: azleg.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Peshlakai served as vice-chair of the Arizona Legislature's Study Committee on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
October 28, 2020For
Source: azleg.gov · researched July 18, 2026
After years of Peshlakai's legislative and public advocacy, Arizona observed Indigenous Peoples' Day under a gubernatorial proclamation; she had first introduced replacement-holiday legislation in 2013.
October 12, 2020For
Source: cronkitenews.azpbs.org · researched July 18, 2026
Corporate Accountability
· 1 record
Peshlakai sponsored SB 1110, which established Arizona transaction-privilege-tax exemptions for specified business and retail activity involving tribes and reservation commerce; the governor signed it into law.
July 10, 2021Against
Source: azleg.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Public Infrastructure
· 1 record
At her first recorded Arizona State Transportation Board meeting, Peshlakai participated in the Board's unanimous approval of transportation project modifications and review of the 2025-2029 construction program.
June 6, 2024For
Source: publicmeetings.az.gov · researched July 18, 2026
General
· 6 records
Peshlakai resigned from the Arizona Senate to take a role with the U.S. Department of the Interior after chairing the Legislature's Indigenous Peoples Caucus and advocating on water, education, infrastructure, and tribal representation.
December 22, 2021
Source: azmirror.com · researched July 18, 2026
Peshlakai won reelection to the Arizona Senate from District 7 in the November 2020 general election.
November 3, 2020
Source: apps.azsos.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Peshlakai served as Arizona Senate minority whip during the 54th Legislature.
January 14, 2019
Source: apps.azlibrary.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Peshlakai won the 2018 Democratic primary for Arizona State Senate District 7 with 23,503 votes.
August 28, 2018
Source: apps.azsos.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Peshlakai won the Arizona State Senate District 7 election with 54,421 votes.
November 8, 2016
Source: apps.azsos.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Peshlakai won election to the Arizona House of Representatives from District 7.
November 6, 2012
Source: apps.azsos.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Elections
- State Senator - District No. 6 · July 21, 2026 · State Senate District 6; Arizona
Profile last researched July 18, 2026.