Historic Moment for Latina Leadership: Erica Bernal-Martinez Set to Lead NALEO, the Largest Organization of Latino Elected Officials in the U.S.

In a landmark move for Latino political representation, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) and NALEO Educational Fund has named Erica Bernal-Martinez as its new Chief Executive Officer. NALEO is a non-partisan membership organization with a mission to bring together Latino officials from diverse backgrounds and political affiliations to foster collaboration and unity in addressing critical policy issues. The NALEO Educational Fund is the organization's 501(c)(3) arm, with a focus on empowering Latinos to participate fully in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.

Bernal-Martinez, a first-generation Latina who has spent 25 years leading operations for the NALEO Educational Fund, steps into this historic role, making her the first Latina woman to lead NALEO, following Arturo Vargas’ long-standing role as CEO.

Photo via NALEO's Instagram account.

In a NALEO press release announcing Bernal-Martinez’s appointment, Vargas expressed his support, saying: “I have had the pleasure of working with Erica throughout her career with NALEO Educational Fund and take immense joy in the fact that our Board has entrusted her with the role of the next CEO. Having worn virtually every leadership hat within this organization during her exemplary tenure, I can think of no other person more uniquely qualified and better prepared to take on the responsibility of leading our mission forward.”

While the exact percentage of Latino political organizations led by Latina women in the U.S. is difficult to calculate due to a lack of comprehensive data, only a handful of them exist despite 36.2 million Latinos being of voting age as of 2024, and approximately 1.4 million additional Latinos expected to become eligible to vote every year. Additionally, many of the organizations exist as political action committees, more commonly known as PACs, rather than membership organizations like NALEO.

Bernal-Martinez’s appointment marks a significant moment for Latino political leadership, where Latina women remain underrepresented in top political positions relative to the size of the population. However, improvement is occurring. The number of elected Latinas in the House of Representatives is increasing, contributing significantly to the growth in women representatives overall. Between the 115th and 118th Congresses, the share of women among Latino representatives rose from 26% to 37% between 2017 and 2025 according to the latest available data.

NALEO: The Largest Organization of Latino Political Leaders

Established in 1976, NALEO stands as the largest non-partisan organization of Latino elected and appointed officials in the United States, representing over 7,000 policymakers across various levels of government. As a non-partisan entity, the organization brings together officials from different political affiliations to address pressing issues affecting Latinos nationwide. Given the small number of political membership organizations that work primarily with Latino elected officials, NALEO is filling a critical void in a space where thousands of policy makers don’t have very many places to go.

Under Bernal-Martinez’s leadership, NALEO is set to embark on a new era, continuing its commitment to fostering Latino political participation and ensuring equitable representation in American democracy. Her extensive experience in constituency services, civic engagement, and voter mobilization positions her as someone who could be a transformative leader for the organization’s future.

In the NALEO press release, Bernal-Martinez expressed her commitment to the work ahead, stating: “When I started my career, I never imagined that my work with this organization would have allowed me to have so many fulfilling and impactful experiences over my 25-year tenure. From leading efforts to bring Republicans and Democrats from across the country together to move policy issues forward, to guiding our citizenship and voter mobilization initiatives, I have seen firsthand the ability of NALEO and NALEO Educational Fund to make a difference in people’s lives.”

She concluded, “My work has always been motivated by a devotion to family, community, and country. I see this same dedication from our NALEO Members and the incredibly committed staff at NALEO Educational Fund, and I am honored to lead them as we embark on this next chapter in our organizations’ future.”

A Vision for the Future

Bernal-Martinez’s leadership comes at a pivotal time for Latino political engagement. With ongoing debates over voting rights, immigration policy, and Latino representation in government, her tenure as CEO will be closely watched. Her priorities will include organizational restructuring, enhancing long-term strategic planning to continue serving the Latino community, and implementing strategies for programmatic impact and efficiency.

NALEO’s announcement of Bernal-Martinez as CEO is both a pivotal leadership change and a defining moment for Latina women in leadership. As Latinas continue to face systemic barriers to political advancement, her appointment sends a clear message: Latina leaders are helping shape the future of American politics.