She took a job at a local bakery when she was 14 to make spending money, yet still managed to earn an academic scholarship for college. Though she kept mopping floors and working the register on weekends and over breaks to proceed earning extra cash.
Wheeless became the first person in her family to graduate from college and ultimately joined a law firm after becoming an attorney. She continued to become a lobbyist for a banking association and later joined the Phoenix Suns as an executive. She eventually quit beginning a consulting firm before staffing for then-Sen. Martha McSally.
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Now, Wheeless, a second-generation Mexican American, is vying to become the first Latina to represent Arizona in Congress.
"I got into the race to protect the American dream," Wheeless, a Republican, explained to Fox News from her home in an exclusive interview. "I am a product of that."
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"My grandmother immigrated here from Mexico as a young girl," the former Phoenix Suns executive went on. "And so I believe in the power of that."
The timing of Wheeless’ run in Arizona's 4th District may couple well with her background: The Republican Party has courted Hispanic candidates for November's midterm elections as Latinos have trended away from Democrats and toward the GOP.
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Clearly, Wheeless scored endorsements from the Congressional Leadership Fund – a super PAC tied to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy – and from House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik.
Wheeless also criticized Democrats, stating they take "Latino support for granted," she explained, according to Fox News, days after first lady Jill Biden compared the Hispanic community to breakfast tacos.
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"Things like that also show where the Democrat Party is losing the support of the Latino community because we're put into this box," Wheeless told Fox News. "And I think this is going to be a huge wakeup call for them in November."
"The values that certainly were in my family growing up – and I think with many Latino families – of faith and family and freedom and entrepreneurship … are in alignment with the Republican Party," Wheeless went on. "We're going to see more Latinos coming to the Republican Party."
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Nonetheless, the former banking lobbyist faces a crowded primary in Arizona’s 4th District. Her opponents include a veteran and businessman aligning himself with the MAGA platform, a candidate who’s twice made it to the general election, and a former NFL running back who received national attention after running a shock ad.
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Yet Wheeless is confident her humble upbringing will carry her to victory in Tuesday’s primary election. She further thinks her district is frustrated with Democrats over kitchen table matters, like inflation, and will vote to unseat Rep. Greg Stanton.
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