First openly LGBTQ Latina in Minnesota Legislature. Hip-hop artist, cultural organizer, and Type 1 diabetic who became a leading voice for insulin affordability and immigrant rights. Made history by releasing her album "Capitolio" the same day she was sworn in as State Representative - the first elected official and hip-hop artist to do so. Her music fuses Afro-Boricua rhythms of Bomba and Plena with Minneapolis funk and hip-hop. Represents District 65B (downtown Saint Paul, West Side, West St. Paul), one of Minnesota's largest Latino communities. Currently running for Ramsey County Commissioner District 5 to succeed retiring Rafael Ortega - would be first Latina County Commissioner in Ramsey County history.
Serving
About
Family & Heritage
Born and raised on Saint Paul's West Side barrio, the heart of Minnesota's first and largest Puerto Rican community. Her NuyoRican (New York-Puerto Rican) parents, Harry Perez and Elsa Vega-Perez, moved from New York to Saint Paul in the 1970s. Her father Harry was a Vietnam War veteran who "fought two wars: one in Vietnam and one on the streets of his hood." In 1992, her mother and aunt (a former Chicago jazz singer) founded El Arco Iris Center for the Arts, a nonprofit performing arts school focused on Afro-Puerto Rican arts and music. Maria Isa studied Afro-Boricua performing arts there under master instructors. She has one child and lives on the West Side of Saint Paul.
Political Career
Before Politics
International recording artist and hip-hop musician known as "Maria Isa" - released over 15 albums under her independent label SotaRico (founded 2009). Performed alongside The Roots, Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Wu-Tang Clan, Common, Atmosphere, and Sheila E. Her mixtape "The Dragon Lady" was named by LA Weekly as one of the strongest mixtapes of the year by a female rapper in 2016. Cultural community organizer and youth worker. Mentorship program director for Twin Cities Mobile Jazz Project. Led Youthrive Live! program educating incarcerated youth statewide, hosting Nobel Peace Prize Laureates including Rigoberta Menchu-Tum, Desmond Tutu, and Shirin Ebadi to present workshops to over 20,000 youth. Organized Puerto Rico hurricane relief efforts after 2018 disaster. Small business owner and CEO of SotaRico production company.
Education
Cultural Studies; Columbia College Chicago (did not complete degree - left to work on campaign to free Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar Lopez Rivera); Wilder Foundation Community Equity Program alumna
Awards & Recognition
National Hispana Leadership Institute "Rising Latina Star" Award (for Youthrive Live! work with incarcerated youth); 2019 McKnight Fellow Musician; Wilder Foundation Community Equity Program alumna
Key Issues & Priorities
Driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants (co-led passage of "Driver's Licenses for All" in 2023)
insulin affordability (key role in Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act as a Type 1 diabetic who rationed insulin)
early childhood education (secured funding for 5,000+ pre-K seats)
housing stability and homelessness services (delivered $3M to Listening House
$2.4M for Ramsey County housing programs)
LGBTQ+ rights
reproductive freedom
Latino arts and culture (introduced legislation for Minnesota's first Museum of Latino Arts on West Side)
Notable Legislation
HF4 - Driver's Licenses for All
Co-led with Rep. Aisha Gomez to restore driving privileges to 81,000 undocumented immigrants after 20-year ban
signed into lawAlec Smith Insulin Affordability Act
Capped 90-day insulin supply co-pays at $50, nation's first such law
signed into lawPRO Act
Voted to protect reproductive freedom
Endorsements
Minnesota DFL
OutFront Action Minnesota
Sierra Club
Run for Something
LPAC (LGBTQ Victory Fund)
numerous labor unions