Senator Lela Alston

Lela Alston is a Democratic member of the Arizona State Senate representing Legislative District 5, which covers central and northern Phoenix. Born June 26, 1942, she is a Phoenix native who grew up in the neighborhood surrounding the State Capitol on 7th Avenue. She has two children and six grandchildren.

Alston is Arizona's longest-serving legislator, having served in the state legislature for nearly five decades across multiple non-consecutive periods. She first entered the Legislature in 1977 and has maintained a strong commitment to public service throughout her career.

Education

Alston is a product of Arizona's public education system. She attended Adams/Grace Court Elementary and graduated from Phoenix Union High School. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona in three years and later received her master's degree from Arizona State University while teaching full time in the Phoenix Union High School District.

Political Experience

Alston's legislative career spans several distinct periods:

• 1977–1995: Served in the Arizona State Senate during her first terms
• 2011–2019: Returned to the Legislature, serving in the Arizona House of Representatives
• 2019–Present: Won her current Arizona State Senate seat representing District 5 with 72% of the vote in 2019

Beyond her legislative work, Alston taught in the Phoenix Union High School District for 34 years and was elected to the PUHSD Governing Board in November 2008, continuing her service to Phoenix students and families.

Notable achievements include securing $150 million to the Housing Trust Fund to address homelessness and the housing crisis. She has demonstrated particular focus on education policy and services for senior citizens throughout her tenure.