State and federal lawmakers react to Dolores Huerta’s passing

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) - Lawmakers across the country, including Arizona and California, are sharing their reaction to Dolores Huerta's passing Wednesday.

Huerta's family released a statement saying, "We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved mother, Dolores Huerta, has passed away today at the age of 96."

"As you can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for us, and we ask for privacy as we grieve this incredible loss to our family," the statement added.

She was a well-known activist for improving working conditions for farmworkers and championing the rights of marginalized communities.

Huerta also co-founded the United Farm Workers Union with Cesar Chavez in the 1960s.

Following the news of Huerta's passing, the Arizona Latino Legislative Caucus released the following statement:

"The Arizona Latino Caucus is deeply saddened by the passing of Dolores Huerta, a tireless champion for justice, equality, and the rights of Latino communities and farmworkers. 

Throughout her lifetime, Dolores Huerta dedicated herself to fighting for working families, advocating for fair wages, dignity, and better working conditions for farm workers. She empowered generations to stand up for their rights. Her courage, leadership, and unwavering commitment to justice helped shape the labor movement and inspired countless people to continue the fight for a more equitable future. 

Her legacy powerfully reminds us that progress is achieved when we stand together, speak out, and never stop fighting for those whose voices are too often unheard. 

The Arizona Latino Caucus will honor Dolores Huerta’s legacy by continuing the work she began decades ago, advancing policies that protect working families, uplift Latino communities, defend the rights of farmworkers, and create greater opportunities for future generations. 

The work did not end with her, and neither will our commitment to the fight for justice. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, loved ones, and all those whose lives she touched. ¡Sí se puede!"

Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) also issued the following statement on Huerta's passing:

"I'm heartbroken by the passing of Dolores Huerta, an American icon, and a trailblazer whose courage, conviction, and lifelong fight for justice changed the world. As a co-founder of the United Farm Workers union and a former public school teacher, she devoted her life to advancing workers' rights, civil rights, and dignity for all.

She was the voice for so many communities who didn't feel like they had one. She was a champion — our guerrera until the very end, putting her all into the candidates, causes, and issues she cared deeply about. For generations of Latinas, workers, and everyday people who knew a better world was possible, Dolores was more than a leader. She was a walking example of what it means to speak up, stand tall, and fight for others, even when the odds are stacked against you. When others insisted that Arizona farmworkers couldn't successfully organize, telling her, 'No, in Arizona, no se puede,' she responded, 'No, in Arizona, sí se puede!' That was in 1972, and 54 years later, those words remain a rallying cry for all of us - ones we chanted together during her frequent visits to Tucson, a place that has benefited immensely from the fruits of her labor.

Dolores never wanted to claim credit or get recognition – she wanted to advance the fight for justice. Generations of Latinas, including myself, stand on Dolores's shoulders and have had doors opened to them because of the glass ceilings she shattered. She was also a wonderful friend to the Grijalva family and was present for marches, demonstrations, and for some of the happiest and hardest times of our lives. When my dad passed away, Dolores was there for us. Her compassion and support meant more than words can express, and I will always carry that with me.

Dolores leaves behind a legacy of action, hope, resilience, and love. We are all part of that legacy, and the best way to honor her is to continue the fight she dedicated her life to. May she rest in power. ¡Que viva Dolores Huerta!"

According to her office, Rep. Grijalva is co-hosting a vigil dedicated to Huerta at Joaquin Murrieta Park in Tucson. She will be joined by Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and community coalition partners.

In addition, Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) issued the following statement on Huerta's passing:

"Our nation lost a hero and a warrior for justice with the passing of Dolores Huerta. She fought for justice until the very end. She stood up for farmworkers, women, children and the poor her entire life. As the son of farmworkers who grew up in a farmworker community, I owe her so much gratitude for inspiring a movement that brought so much dignity to many people who work hard to feed America and struggle just to give their children an opportunity. May she rest in peace. Her legacy and the struggle live on."

In addition, several lawmakers across the nation posted to social media to share their reaction:

Arizona and our nation lost a true champion of civil rights today. Dolores Huerta spent her life fighting for farmworkers, working families, and basic human dignity. Her courage will forever inspire us. My heart goes out to her family, loved ones, and the community mourning her loss.

— Governor Katie Hobbs (@GovernorHobbs) October 28, 2026

Dolores Huerta spent her entire life fighting for others. Her impact on Arizona, the Latino community, and our entire country is immeasurable. We owe so much to her courage and her leadership. Her legacy will live on for generations. ¡Sí, se puede!

— AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes (@AZAGMayes) October 28, 2026

Statement on the passing of Dolores Huerta https://t.co/KJGqQ8hUBv

— Arizona Secretary of State (@AZSecretary) October 28, 2026

My heart goes out to the loved ones of civil rights and labor leader Dolores Huerta. Her courage in speaking truth to power and her legacy advocating for farmworkers’ rights, civil rights, women’s equality, and social justice will continue to inspire future generations of leaders. May her legacy remind us that no matter how difficult the challenge, Sí Se Puede!

— Mayor Kate Gallego (@MayorGallego) October 28, 2026

Gabby and I were lucky to get to know Dolores Huerta over the years. She gave the entire labor movement a unifying message of hope with "Sí Se Puede" in Phoenix in 1972, and her fight for farmworkers and working families made Arizona and our country a better place. https://t.co/Z2OeCv64EA

— Captain Mark Kelly (@CaptMarkKelly) October 28, 2026

Dolores Huerta was a true champion for civil rights, one of our nation’s greatest activists, and a pillar of our community. Because of her advocacy, workers across the country have better pay, better working conditions, and better opportunities. Dolores was a mentor and a friend who believed in me enough to chair my first campaign for the Arizona State House. She showed me and so many others that real change is possible. It’s on all of us to carry her legacy forward. La lucha continúa. ¡Sí, se puede!

— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) October 28, 2026

Dolores Huerta represented the best of us. California — and the United States — would not be what we are today without her resolute spirit, her passion for justice and fairness, and her commitment to those overlooked and forgotten. Dolores' fight for gender equity, workers' rights, and civil rights paved the way for generations to come — teaching people what was possible with determination and heart. Her legacy lies not just in the accomplishments she achieved, but in the people who follow in her footsteps, take up the mantle, and keep creating a better world.

— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) October 28, 2026

As the daughter of immigrants who grew up in Southern California, Dolores Huerta and the UFW profoundly shaped my life. Through organizing and fighting for workers’ rights, she helped open doors for me and generations of Latinas who followed. I’m deeply grateful for her life, leadership, and service to our community.

— Rep. Linda Sánchez (@RepLindaSanchez) October 28, 2026

A champion of working Californians and the Latino community for over half a century. A fighter for fair wages, for civil rights and for a seat at the tables of power. There will never be another like Dolores Huerta. https://t.co/3hO4Jqw50d

— Senator Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) October 28, 2026

Today, we sadly mourn the loss of Dolores Huerta, a leader in the American labor movement and a champion for civil rights. Dolores was a dear friend whose rallying cry, “Sí se puede,” inspired generations of Americans to believe in the power of collective action. https://t.co/YeeL890slv

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) October 28, 2026

Dolores Huerta was a fearless labor leader, feminist, and civil rights champion. She built a movement that changed the lives of countless working people. May her legacy continue to inspire us all to fight for justice and dignity for everyone. Rest in power. https://t.co/cUgpL1HtZk

— Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (@RepSaraJacobs) October 28, 2026

A legendary figure in the farmworkers’ movement. Dolores Huerta paved the way for so many. She dedicated her life to serving. May God bless her and her family.

— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) October 28, 2026

Dolores Huerta has passed away from cancer at 96. She was a founder of what became the United Farm Workers and an inspiration for generations of organizers. Her courageous leadership in civil disobedience set an invaluable example in nonviolence. Dolores’s memory will live on.

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) October 28, 2026

Dolores Huerta was one of the bravest and most relentless advocates for working families and farm workers that America has ever seen. Her work changed lives across the country, including those of families across my community and our state. Dolores helped raise workers’ wages and benefits, fought for women’s rights, and built invaluable grassroots voter engagement efforts. Her lifelong commitment to activism and empowerment transformed countless labor unions, feminist movements, and progressive organizations for the better. She was a kind person who lived through struggle and pain but always tried to do the right thing. She has inspired generations and her legacy will never be forgotten.

— Congressman Robert Garcia (@RepRobertGarcia) October 28, 2026

Angela and I mourn the passing of Dolores Huerta, a giant in the ongoing fight for workers’ rights, women’s rights, and the protection of civil liberties. She leaves behind an enduring legacy as a civil rights and labor icon who fought tirelessly for better working conditions for migrant laborers and championed the rights of immigrants and women. From the Delano Grape Strike to her work for equal pay and reproductive freedom, Dolores fought until the end for a more just and equitable future. She showed us the power of organizing, the strength of solidarity, and what we can accomplish when we stand together. Now, it’s on all of us to carry on that torch: to keep organizing and to keep fighting.

— Senator Alex Padilla (@SenAlexPadilla) October 28, 2026

Dolores Huerta was a hero of mine. When she co-founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962, people thought Dolores was crazy. “How are you going to organize farm workers,” she remembered being asked. "They are poor, powerless immigrants.” But that’s exactly what she did, helping thousands of migrant laborers working in brutal conditions make their voices heard, and demand something better. Dolores spent the rest of her life fighting for marginalized communities, even as she herself faced sexism and abuse — including, as she revealed earlier this year, from Cesar Chavez and others within her own movement. She also came up with a pretty good slogan, “Si, se puede” — Yes, we can — that I too often get credit for. But as usual, Dolores got there first. Michelle and I are thinking of Dolores’s family, the people whose lives she changed, and everyone who drew inspiration from her example. Photo credit: National Archives, Obama Presidential Library

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 28, 2026

Dolores Huerta was a pioneering labor leader and legendary civil rights activist. Amidst the struggle of the movement, her rallying cry, "Sí se puede," was a call to stay in the fight. The work of Dolores Huerta and the United Farm Workers was a driving force for change across California and our country. Her brilliant organizing and fierce negotiating came to the national spotlight during the Delano Grape strike, and countless people benefited from her decades-long career. Thanks to her, immigrants and workers won better wages, working conditions, environmental protections, and voting rights. I was blessed to know Dolores for many years and proud to organize alongside my dear friend to champion working families and immigrant rights. I will always be grateful for her support and friendship. We will honor her legacy by continuing the fight for the dignity of every person. Doug and I send our love and prayers to the four generations of loving family she leaves behind, the community she built, and to the millions of people who have been touched by her work.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 28, 2026

I grew up in a world Dolores Huerta helped make. Every time a worker in this city organizes for a fair wage, every time a tenant, delivery worker, or a nanny stands up and demands better, they join a tradition she forged. She led without asking permission. She organized farmworkers when the country looked away, took the grape boycott to every corner of America, and won protections that changed millions of lives. Her work started in California’s fields, but it was never only for California. Families in New York, in Texas, and in the Midwest followed in her footsteps and learned from her example, without ever meeting her. Her bravery and fight for justice continued until the very end of her life, when she came forward to share the truth about what she had survived -- even though silence would have been easier. She taught us that sí se puede and lived it every day. New York mourns Dolores Huerta. Let us honor her by continuing the work.

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) October 28, 2026

My statement on the devastating passing of Dolores Huerta⬇️ https://t.co/g5sbyMglbv

— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) October 28, 2026

Dolores Huerta achieved so much in her life, including leading strikes and boycotts for worker rights, helping to pass a landmark law giving farmworkers the right to bargain collectively, and inspiring generations of future organizers and public servants. Our country is a better place because of her advocacy for workers, women, immigrants, and all of us. I’ll forever be grateful for her courage and legacy.

— Governor Wes Moore (@GovWesMoore) October 28, 2026

Dolores Huerta changed the course of American history and taught us the power of fighting back. She won crucial labor victories for farmworkers, leaving a lasting example of how to organize and empower communities. I'm saddened by her passing and thinking of all who admired her.

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) October 28, 2026