Maria is a native of San Antonio, Texas, whose life has been defined by service, perseverance, and a commitment to the common good. After high school, Maria enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1974 to 1980. She was stationed across the country, including Illinois, Kansas, and California, and earned recognition for her leadership and professionalism. Notably, she became the first female crew chief at Castle Air Force Base to receive the Master Crew Chief Award.

Following her active-duty service, Maria returned to San Antonio to pursue higher education and continued military service with the Texas Air National Guard. In 1988, she earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from The University of Texas at San Antonio. She retired from the Guard in 1997 with the rank of Master Sergeant.

Maria’s professional career has focused on supporting veterans and advancing social and health programs across Texas, Illinois, and Iowa. She began her political work as campaign manager for a congressional candidate and has since witnessed firsthand how political divisions can erode the common good. Determined to unite Texans, Maria sought the office of Texas Lt. Governor to champion a message of “One Texas for All.”

In 2006, Maria won two Democratic primary elections to become the nominee for Texas Lt. Governor. She lost the general election on November 7, 2006. In 2012, Maria ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House to represent the 35th Congressional District (TX). Throughout her campaigns, her guiding principle has remained clear: every child deserves equal access to quality education, and citizens must stand up to protect it. As public education faces unprecedented challenges, Maria is stepping back into the political arena to stand up for Texas children and their families.