Cindy Nava

Born in Chihuahua, Mexico,^[1] Nava came to the United States with her family as a child. She is a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.^[2] Raised in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico, Nava earned an associate degree in education from Santa Fe Community College, followed by a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Master of Science in educational leadership and policy from the University of New Mexico.^[3]

Prior to seeking elected office, Nava worked as an aide in the New Mexico Legislature. She served in the office of then-Congressman Ben Ray Luján and worked on Luján's 2020 Senate campaign. From 2022 to 2024, Nava served as a senior policy advisor in the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, one of the first DACA recipients to receive a presidential appointment.^[4]

In 2024, Nava resigned from HUD and returned to New Mexico to launch a campaign for the New Mexico Senate. Nava won the Democratic primary and defeated Audrey Trujillo in the general election.^[5]