A prominent Democratic candidate for the House has come under scrutiny for failing to disclose a brief, 16-day marriage nearly three decades ago to a Syrian national. This revelation has been described by critics as “suspicious and unusual.”
Documents obtained by the Daily Mail reveal that JoAnna Mendoza, an openly bisexual Marine veteran competing in Arizona’s competitive 6th Congressional District, wed Tariq Alrawwass in Syria on April 20, 1998. The marriage was short-lived, as it ended just 16 days later when Mendoza returned to the United States alone.
This disclosure has sparked demands for clarity from the political newcomer.
“This scenario is suspicious and peculiar,” remarked Lydia Hall, a spokeswoman for the Congressional Leadership Fund, a Super PAC funded by House GOP leaders. “JoAnna Mendoza owes the people of Arizona a thorough account of this situation.”
Court records reveal that Mendoza did not file for divorce until October 2000, over two years after the couple separated, citing difficulties in locating Alrawwass. A judge finally granted a default divorce in June 2001.
Records show Alrawwass never lived in the United States, and Mendoza’s Navy records indicate she never deployed overseas during her 1994–1997 enlistment, leaving it unclear how the two met.
Mendoza leaned her campaign heavily on her raw, self-made story. To connect with voters, she openly talked about growing up in rural poverty, her sobriety, and her life as a bisexual single mother raising a ten-year-old son. Her strategy helped her build a national profile and win the financial backing of major progressive and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. Before jumping into this race, she ran a consulting firm dedicated to helping progressive women, transwomen, and nonbinary candidates find their own footing in public leadership.
Mendoza’s campaign dismissed the story as a political distraction.
“JoAnna’s brief marriage at age 21 is one short chapter amid her decades of service,” campaign spokesperson Kyle McCarthy said. “It ended nearly 30 years ago, and she has since built a career dedicated to service, responsibility, and helping others.”
Mendoza is currently neck-and-neck with incumbent Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani, whom she recently out-raised.