Maria Perez (New Hampshire politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

| office = Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives

| term_start = December 2, 2020

| term_end = December 4, 2024

| constituency = {{ublist|Hillsborough 23 (2020–2022)|{{nowrap|Hillsborough 43 (2022–2024)}}}}

| party = Independent (since 2023)

| otherparty = Democratic (before 2023)

| children = 2

| birth_place = El Salvador

| residence = Milford, New Hampshire, U.S.

| education = Nashua Community College
Nashua Adult Learning

}}

Maria Perez is a Salvadoran-born American politician who is a former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Perez represented the Hillsborough 23rd district from 2020 to 2022, and the Hillsborough County 43rd district from 2022 to 2024. First elected as a democrat in 2020, Perez left the party in 2023, citing frustration with a lack of progress on issues that were important to her and "feeling unwelcome in the party".{{Cite web |last=Kisluk |first=Jessica |date=October 3, 2023 |title=State Rep. Maria Perez leaves Democratic Party, will serve remainder of term as 'undeclared' |url=https://www.wmur.com/article/maria-perez-leaves-democratic-party-nh-state-house/45419562 |access-date=November 25, 2023|website=WMUR-TV}} She also said she felt disillusioned after feeling increasingly sidelined. Perez is an independent.{{Cite news |date=October 4, 2023|title=Rep. Maria Perez: "my voice doesn't really matter" |url=https://nhlatinonews.com/rep-maria-perez-my-voice-doesnt-really-matter |publisher=New Hampshire Latino News|access-date=February 26, 2024}}

She endorsed Marianne Williamson for President in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Goke |first=Amanda |date=October 3, 2023 |title=Why Maria Perez was the latest N.H. lawmaker to leave the Democratic party|publisher=The Boston Globe|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/10/03/metro/why-maria-perez-was-latest-nh-lawmaker-leave-democratic-party/ |access-date=November 27, 2023}}

Early life and career

Perez was born in El Salvador on her grandparents' farm, where she had a total of 8 brothers and sisters. Throughout her childhood, she was sexually abused by her father and at the age of 16, was sold off into an arranged marriage in the United States. On her way to the United States, she was raped by two Mexican border agents, the marriage itself would last 11 years and gave her two children.{{Cite web |last=Staton |first=Jamie |date=September 23, 2022 |title=NH state representative, one of 3 Latino House members, shares story of struggles |url=https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-state-representative-maria-perez-92322/41360078 |access-date=November 25, 2023|website=WMUR-TV}}

At the age of 40, she graduated from Nashua Adult Learning and Nashua Community College. She also remarried to a new husband. Before entering politics, she worked for Alene Candles, the Ford Motor Company, and Campers Inn RV.{{cite web|url=https://sengov.com/states/new-hampshire/maria-perez|title=Maria Perez|website=SenGov}} In addition, Perez also served as a regional director for Amy Klobuchar's 2020 presidential campaign and field organizer for Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign.{{cite news|last=Landrigan|first=Kevin|url=https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/state/democratic-legislator-apologizes-for-tweet/article_90eafd0a-da53-5fc5-a101-1b9e8cac1fca.html|title=Democratic legislator apologizes for tweet|publisher=New Hampshire Union Leader|date=November 2, 2021}}

Tenure

While in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, Perez has focused on restoring abortion access in New Hampshire, the environment, and education.{{Cite web |title=Maria Perez |url=https://nhhousedems.org/candidates/maria-perez |access-date=February 26, 2024|website=New Hampshire House Democrats}} She is seated on the House Children and Family Law Committee.{{Cite news|last=Landrigan |first=Kevin |date=2023-10-03 |title=Third NH House member leaves party, becomes independent |url=https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/state/third-nh-house-member-leaves-party-becomes-independent/article_45a9e16d-81d9-5cde-9ec3-22cc6780ae9e.html |access-date=February 26, 2024|website=New Hampshire Union Leader}}

In 2021, Perez was "accused of antisemitism" after tweeting "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!" and describing Israel as an apartheid state.{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Michael |date=October 29, 2021 |title=NHDem Rep's Call for End of Israel Highlights Party's Anti-Semitism Problem |url=https://nhjournal.com/nhdem-reps-call-for-end-of-israel-highlights-partys-anti-semitism-problem |access-date=Feb 26, 2024 |publisher=NH Journal: an InsideSources publication}} Perez later deleted the tweets. She later tweeted "I believe in a one-state solution where Jews, Muslims, Christians and others can live together with equal rights, unlike the current state of Israeli occupation and apartheid."{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Michael |date=November 1, 2021|title=Perez Apologizes for 'River to the Sea' Post, Silent On Israel an 'Apartheid State' Claim |url=https://nhjournal.com/perez-apologized-for-river-to-the-sea-post-silent-on-israel-an-apartheid-state-claim/ |access-date=February 26, 2024|publisher=NH Journal: an InsideSources publication}} She was then removed from the New Hampshire House Progressive Caucus's leadership.{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Michael |date=November 12, 2021|title=NH House Progressive Caucus Boots Perez From Leadership Over 'Antisemitic' Post |url=https://nhjournal.com/nh-house-progressive-caucus-boots-perez-from-leadership-over-antisemitic-post |access-date=February 26, 2024|publisher=NH Journal: an InsideSources publication}}

Perez left the democratic party in 2023.{{Cite web|last=Sylvia|first=Andrew|date=January 4, 2024|title=State Rep denied re-entry to executive committee due to political party change|url=https://manchesterinklink.com/perez-denied-re-entry-to-executive-committee|access-date=February 26, 2024|publisher=Manchester Ink Link}}{{Cite web |last=Kisluk |first=Jessica |date=October 3, 2023|title=State Rep. Maria Perez leaves Democratic Party, will serve remainder of term as 'undeclared' |url=https://www.wmur.com/article/maria-perez-leaves-democratic-party-nh-state-house/45419562 |access-date=November 25, 2023|website=WMUR-TV}} Her party switch was met with some negative reactions from members of the democratic caucus of the New Hampshire House of Representatives that were disappointed.

In January 2024, she was removed from the Hillsborough County Delegation Executive Committee due to a state law that requires members of the committee to be a member of either the political party of the majority or minority of members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and a 48-53 vote in which all the votes for her to remain were made by members of the republican party with the exception of Damond Ford, Peter Leishman, and Jonah Wheeler. Sandra Panek remarked "This is such a tragedy, Maria Perez has independent constituents who will now not have representation [on the executive committee]."

Personal life

Perez moved to New Hampshire from El Salvador and obtained American citizenship in 2007.{{Cite web |date=November 18, 2020|title=Meet New N.H. Lawmakers: Rep. Maria Perez From Milford |url=https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2020-11-18/meet-new-n-h-lawmakers-rep-maria-perez-from-milford |access-date=November 25, 2023|website=New Hampshire Public Radio |language=en}} She is the vice-chairwoman of the National Human Rights Committee.

References

Category:Living people

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:People from Milford, New Hampshire

Category:Hispanic and Latino American politicians

Category:Hispanic and Latino American women in politics

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:New Hampshire independents

Category:Democratic Party members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives

Category:Women state legislators in New Hampshire

Category:Salvadoran emigrants to the United States

Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in New Hampshire

Category:21st-century members of the New Hampshire General Court