Lela Alston

State Senator, Arizona · District 5

Lela Alston is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Arizona State Senate. She was born on June 26, 1942, in Phoenix, Arizona. Currently, she is representing District 5 in the Arizona State Senate since January 9, 2023.

Portrait of Lela Alston
Role State Senator

Current office, as recorded in the directory.

District District 5

The district this member is elected from.

Service since 2024

Dates of service on record.

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Biography

Lela Alston is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Arizona State Senate. She was born on June 26, 1942, in Phoenix, Arizona. Alston attended Phoenix College and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona, and Arizona State University.1

Alston’s political career began when she was first elected to the Arizona Senate in 1976, serving on the Appropriations Committee for 18 years. She served in the Arizona State Senate from 1977 until 1995. After being encouraged by the community, Alston ran for the Arizona House of Representatives in 2010 and, after serving 8 years in the House, was returned to the State Senate in 2018.

She represented District 24 from 2011 to 2019 in the Arizona House of Representatives. Alston was unable to run for re-election in 2018 to the Arizona House of Representatives because of term limits. She then represented District 24 in the Arizona State Senate from 2019 to 2023. Currently, she is representing District 5 in the Arizona State Senate since January 9, 2023.

In addition to her political career, Alston is also an at-large member of the Phoenix Union High School District in Arizona. She assumed office in 2008. Her current term ends on January 1, 2025.

Alston’s career experience includes working as a teacher. She has served on the Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board. Her contributions to the community and the state of Arizona have been significant and she continues to serve with dedication and commitment.

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References

  1. Lela Alston, State Senator. azleg.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2026.
  2. Official website. azleg.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2026.