Lawmakers from Tempe and Mesa have moved into Democratic Party leadership roles in the Arizona Senate.

Sen. Mitzi Epstein, D-Tempe, has be selected Senate minority leader following an organizational meeting of the Arizona State Senate Democratic Caucus.

She replaces former Sen. Minority Leader Raquel Teránn of Phoenix, who is pursuing U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego's congressional seat. Gallego is running to be the Democratic Party’s nominee in the 2024 U.S. Senate race.

Sen. Eva Burch, D-Mesa, will be the next Senate minority whip, replacing Rosanna Gabaldón, who is leaving for a "personal obligation."

Epstein was first elected to the Arizona Legislature in 2016, and was re-elected in 2018 and 2020, according to the Arizona Senate Democratic Caucus website.

In 2017, she established the Neighbors Council, which meets as needed to work on issues facing Arizonans.

For example, according to the caucus, in response to rising teen suicide rates, the council has worked on suicide prevention. A full-time statewide suicide prevention coordinator has been added in the Arizona budget.

Jake’s Law requires health insurance companies to pay for mental healthcare in parity with physical healthcare – “lifesaving help for families in times of health crisis,” the website stated.

Burch studied nursing at Pima Medical Institute in Mesa and began a career in emergency nursing in 2012, according to her campaign website.

In that role in Phoenix and Mesa she said she saw the impact that insurance status, food insecurity, access to education and homelessness have on individuals and families in Arizona.

The new leadership team also includes Sen. Juan Mendez, who lives in Tempe, as Senate minority assistant leader. Sen. Lela Alston of Phoenix remains Senate minority caucus chair.

AP contributed to this story.