Cindy Nava is a New Mexico State Senator representing District 9 and the first DACA recipient in the U.S. to be elected to a state senate seat. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, she came to New Mexico as a child. The daughter of a construction worker and housecleaner, she earned two policy-related degrees at UNM. She has served as a senior policy advisor at HUD and as an Aspen Institute fellow.
CN
Serving
About
Family & Heritage
Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, came to the U.S. at age 7. Daughter of a construction worker and a housekeeper who immigrated seeking a better life. First in her family to graduate college. Former DACA recipient who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2021 through marriage.
Political Career
Before Politics
Executive Director of Learning Alliance NM; Chief Administrative Officer of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute; Senior Policy Advisor at U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Biden administration); small business owner
Education
B.A., University of New Mexico; M.A. in Public Administration, University of New Mexico
Key Issues & Priorities
Public education reform, affordable housing, affordable healthcare access, public safety, reproductive freedom, homelessness prevention