{{short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Athena Salman | image = Athena Salman by Gage Skidmore.jpg | office = Member of the<br>Arizona House of Representatives | term_start = January 9, 2017 | term_end = January 1, 2024 | predecessor = Juan Mendez | successor = Jevin Hodge | constituency = 26th district {{nowrap|(2017–2023)}}<br>8th district {{nowrap|(2023–2024)}} | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1989}} | birth_place = Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = {{marriage|Juan Mendez|2022}} | children = | education = Arizona State University (BA) | profession = }}
'''Athena Salman''' (born 1989) is an American politician and activist who served as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 26th and 8th districts from 2017 to 2024. She resigned from the legislature effective January 1, 2024.
==Early life and education== Athena Salman was born in Phoenix, Arizona.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Opinion|first=Guest|date=May 24, 2016|title=Meet my daughter: MLK Diversity Award recipient running for House of Representatives|url=https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2016/05/24/meet-my-daughter-mlk-diversity-award-recipient-running-for-house-of-representatives/|access-date=August 5, 2020|website=Arizona Capitol Times|language=en-US}}</ref> Her family has roots in Mexico, Germany, and the West Bank.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Athena Salman, House District 26|url=http://stand.org/athena-salman-house-district-26|access-date=August 5, 2020|website=Stand for Children|language=en|archive-date=November 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105115109/http://stand.org/athena-salman-house-district-26|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Athena Salman|url=https://www.newamericanleaders.org/videos/athena-salman/|access-date=August 5, 2020|website=New American Leaders|date=March 7, 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref> Salman led community service projects during her youth. In college, she was an organizing intern and senior fellow with the Arizona Students’ Association. She graduated ''magna cum laude'' from Arizona State University with degrees in economics and political science.<ref name="auto">{{citation |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Athena_Salman |title=Athena Salman Ballotpedia |date=January 25, 2019 |access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref>
==Career== [[File:Rep. Athena Salman - Member, Arizona State House of Representatives.webm|thumb|left|Salman spoke at the 2017 American Atheists Convention.]] In 2016, Salman defeated incumbent Celeste Plumlee and Michael Martinez in the District 26 Democratic primary. Salman defeated Republican Steven Adkins and Green party candidate Cara Trujillo in the general election.<ref name="auto" /><ref>{{cite web|title=State of Arizona Official Canvass 2016 General Election November 8, 2016|url=https://www.azsos.gov/sites/azsos.gov/files/2016_1205_official_final_signed_state_canvass_for_2016_gen.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220203745/https://www.azsos.gov/sites/azsos.gov/files/2016_1205_official_final_signed_state_canvass_for_2016_gen.pdf|archive-date=December 20, 2016|access-date=December 9, 2016|publisher=Secretary of State of Arizona|location=Phoenix, Arizona|page=17}}</ref> In 2018, Salman defeated Republican Ray Speakman in the general election.<ref>{{cite web|title=State of Arizona Official Canvass 2018 General Election November 6, 2018|url=https://azsos.gov/sites/default/files/2018%201203%20Signed%20Official%20Statewide%20Canvass.pdf|access-date=January 25, 2019|publisher=Secretary of State of Arizona|location=Phoenix, Arizona|page=17}}</ref> In both elections, Salman ran as a Clean Election Candidate and received no PAC contributions.
Salman, an atheist, made national headlines during her first legislative session when she gave a humanist prayer on the House floor, which was ruled out of order by the Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/an-arizona-legislator-gave-an-invocation-that-didnt-mention-god-you-wont-believe-what-happened-next/ |author= Nichols, John |title=Arizona Legislator Gave an Invocation that Didn't Mention God. You Won't Believe What Happened Next |publisher=thenation.com |date=April 21, 2017 |access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref>
In 2018, Salman's legislation to provide unlimited feminine hygiene products to incarcerated women was heard in an all-male committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kjzz.org/content/602963/%E2%80%98pads-and-tampons-and-problems-periods-all-male-committee-hears-arizona-bill-feminine |author= Jenkins, Jimmy |title='Pads And Tampons And The Problems With Periods:' All-Male Committee Hears Arizona Bill On Feminine Hygiene Products In Prison |work= KJZZ |publisher=kjzz.org |date=February 5, 2018 |access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref> As a result, a viral campaign to pressure immediate change ensued leading to a policy change by the Arizona Department of Corrections that increased the allotment of pads and for the first time included tampons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/13/health/women-pads-arizona-state-representative-trnd/index.html |author= Vera, Amir |title=Why women in Arizona are sending a state representative pads and tampons |publisher=cnn.com |date=February 13, 2018 |access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/legislature/2018/02/21/arizona-prisons-give-free-tampons-female-inmates/361075002/ |author= White, Kaila |title=Arizona prisons will now give female inmates free tampons |publisher=azcentral.com |date=February 21, 2018 |access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref>
Salman was one of nine women to come forward with sexual harassment allegations against former Arizona House of Representatives member Don Shooter, eventually leading to his expulsion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/02/politics/arizona-state-lawmaker-expelled-harassment-report/index.html |author= Stracqualursi, Veronica |title=GOP lawmaker expelled from Arizona House after report finds pattern of sexual harassment |publisher=cnn.com |date=February 2, 2018 |access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref>
Salman supported Proposition 205 in 2016, which would legalize recreational use of marijuana for those 21 and older.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/10/28/district-26-candidates-define-their-positions-debate/92887154/ |title=District 26 candidates define their positions at debate |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=October 28, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> Salman also supports public education, immigration reform, reproductive rights and LGBTQ equality.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2018/12/30/10-arizona-people-watch-2019/2131459002/ |title=Top Ten Newsmakers You'll Want to Watch in 2019 |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=October 28, 2016 |access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref>
On January 1, 2024, Salman submitted her resignation from the legislature to Speaker of the House Ben Toma. She resigned in order to take a position as the director of Arizona campaigns for the state chapter of Reproductive Freedom for All.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/arizona-athena-salman-resign-abortion-rights-group-f1a25c47e14e72bc5e5b956f58e23576 |title=Arizona lawmaker Athena Salman resigning at year's end, says she will join an abortion rights group |publisher=Associated Press |date=December 20, 2023 |accessdate=January 1, 2024}}</ref>
==Recognition== Salman was recognized as 2018 Best Politician by ''Phoenix New Times''<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/best-of/2018/megalopolitan-life/best-politician-10865646 |title=Best Politician – Athena Salman |date=June 15, 2018 |access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref> and named by The Arizona Republic's top ten newsmakers to watch in 2019.<ref name="auto1"/> Salman and state senator Juan Mendez received Phoenix New Time's 2017 Best Power Couple.<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/best-of/2017/megalopolitan-life/best-power-couple-9729206 |title=Best Power Couple – Juan Mendez and Athena Salman |date=June 15, 2017 |access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref> She was also awarded the City of Tempe's MLK Diversity Award in 2016.<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.tempe.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=46642 |title=Past City of Tempe MLK Diversity Award Winners |access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Commons}} * [https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=54&legislator=1885 Official page] at the Arizona State Legislature * [https://votesmart.org/candidate/171836/ Profile] at Vote Smart * [http://ballotpedia.org/Athena_Salman Biography] at Ballotpedia * [https://www.followthemoney.org/entity-details?eid=40621924 Financial information (state office)] at OpenSecrets
{{DEFAULTSORT:Salman, Athena}} Category:1989 births Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:American atheists Category:American people of German descent Category:American politicians of Mexican descent Category:American politicians of Palestinian descent Category:Arizona State University alumni Category:Democratic Party members of the Arizona House of Representatives Category:Living people Category:21st-century members of the Arizona State Legislature