“We don’t have Cisco’money’ for gas!” Arizona Workers Call out Congressman Ciscomani’s Silence on Soaring Gas Prices

TUCSON — Arizona workers gathered today at a Chevron gas station to call out Rep. Juan Ciscomani for going silent on soaring gas prices after making affordability at the pump a campaign issue in 2024. He has also repeatedly continued to support Trump’s illegal war in Iran as working families are paying the price and facing higher fuel costs. 

Holding empty cans and signs reading, “I don’t have Cisco’MONEY’ for gas!” workers highlighted the difference between Ciscomani’s campaign promises in 2024 and his actual record today in 2026. 

“The rising fuel costs have affected my family in many ways,” said Shannon Foley, union stagehand. “In my industry, I often have to pay costs upfront that are reimbursed after the completion of the job. Often, I travel out of town for work, but lately the rising cost of fuel has kept me home. I had to turn down work this week because I could not afford the gas to get to the job.” 

In 2024, Ciscomani warned Arizonans that “food, gas, and medicine- it all costs more” and said rising gas prices were “putting a strain on household budgets and making it harder for families to make ends meet.” But as Arizonans face higher fuel costs in 2026, Ciscomani has gone silent on the issue. In August, Politico highlighted the change in rhetoric by Ciscomani, “this year, gone are the mentions of high gas prices.”

Workers also called attention to Ciscomani’s continued support for the war in Iran. In March, he called the administration's actions a “necessary step,” and in May he defended the war by saying Americans would “see the benefits in the long run.” 

For Tucson workers, the issue is ultimately about what higher gas prices mean for their household budgets. The rising cost of fuel hits workers twice: once when they fill their tanks to get to work, and indirectly as high diesel costs increase transportation costs throughout the economy. 

With the November 3 election approaching, Tucson workers will continue drawing attention to everyday costs squeezing working families and supporting pro-worker candidates like JoAnna Mendoza, who will address the affordability crisis facing Arizonans. 

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The Pima Area Labor Federation, or PALF, is one of nearly 500 state and local labor councils of the AFL-CIO and is the heart of the labor movement. We are a democratically elected body dedicated to representing the interests of working people in Arizona and in Pima County. We mobilize our member unions and community partners to advocate for social and economic justice, and we strive daily to vanquish oppression and make our communities better for all people—regardless of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin.