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María Isa Pérez-Vega

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María Isa Pérez-Vega
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 65B district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byCarlos Mariani
Personal details
Born (1987-05-01) May 1, 1987 (age 37)
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Political partyDemocratic (DFL)
Children1
ResidenceSaint Paul, Minnesota
EducationColumbia College Chicago
Occupation
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

María Isa Pérez-Vega (born May 1, 1987) is an American politician and musician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), Pérez-Vega represents District 65B in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Saint Paul and West St. Paul and parts of Dakota and Ramsey Counties.[1][2]

Early life, education and career

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Pérez-Vega was born in on the West Side of Saint Paul, Minnesota, to parents of Puerto Rican heritage.[3] Governor Rudy Perpich appointed her mother as the first Latina to direct the office of equal opportunity.[4] Pérez-Vega graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in cultural studies.[1]

In 2018, Pérez-Vega traveled to Puerto Rico to help with the recovery effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, helping raise more than $270,000 for a fund with the St. Paul Foundation.[3][5] She also helped raise awareness and funds in the aftermath of massive earthquakes in 2020 and Hurricane Fiona in 2022.[6][7]

In 2020, Pérez-Vega supported Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.[8] She was active in the DFL Latino Caucus, which relaunched under the banner "Movimiento".[9]

Pérez-Vega was friends with George Floyd, who was murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in May 2020, and after his death she said Floyd was a "gentle, precious, funny giant".[10][11]

Music career

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Pérez-Vega performing in 2021

Pérez-Vega is a rapper and singer and has been active in the Twin Cities hip-hop scene since she was a teenager.[12][13][14] She owns the record company SotaRico, whose name honors her Minnesotan and Puerto Rican roots.[3][15]

In 2018, Pérez-Vega performed at the 32nd annual Governor's Council Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at the State Capitol and the Minnesota Women's March.[16][17] In 2020, she performed at Bernie Sanders's Saint Paul rally during his presidential campaign.[4][8]

On the day Pérez-Vega was sworn in as a state representative at the Minnesota House, she released a new LP, Capitolio (Spanish for "capital"), and announced she would continue to make music while in office.[18][4] On the day of the release, Pérez-Vega said, "I wanted people to know I'm still me, still a hip-hop artist and mother and girl from the West Side, and I'm bringing all that with me to the Capitol".[18]

Minnesota House of Representatives

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Pérez-Vega was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. She first ran after legislative redistricting and the retirement of 16-term DFL incumbent Carlos Mariani.[1]

Pérez-Vega serves on the Children and Families Finance and Policy, Education Finance, and Housing Finance and Policy Committees. In 2023, Governor Tim Walz appointed her to the Capitol Area Community Vitality Task Force.[1]

Political positions

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Pérez-Vega co-led efforts to pass "Driver's Licenses For All" legislation alongside Aisha Gomez, which was passed by both chambers and signed by Governor Tim Walz on March 7, 2023.[19][20][21] The bill would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses in the state after then-Governor Tim Pawlenty revoked the right in 2003.[22] Pérez-Vega was in high school when the change was made and has spoken about the bill's positive impacts in the immigrant community.[20][23]

In 2023, Pérez-Vega joined Muslim legislators and community leaders following a suspected arson at a mosque in Saint Paul, saying the fires amounted to terrorism against the Muslim community.[24]

Electoral history

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2022 Minnesota State House - District 65B[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Maria Isa Pérez-Hedges 11,995 78.54
Republican Kevin Fjelsted 3,247 21.33
Write-in 19 0.12
Total votes 15,221 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold

Personal life

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Pérez-Vega lives in the West Side of Saint Paul and has one child. She is of Puerto Rican descent.[1] Pérez-Vega was previously married to Twin Cities rapper Robert Hedges, who uses the stage name Muja Messiah.[3][11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Pérez-Vega, María Isa - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  2. ^ "Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega (65B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  3. ^ a b c d Flores, Elizabeth (May 14, 2018). "Minnesotans reach out to a struggling Puerto Rico". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  4. ^ a b c Miller, Diane (2023-01-23). "Rep. María Isa brings hip-hop to the Minnesota House". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  5. ^ Cox, Peter (2017-09-22). "Puerto Ricans in Minnesota push for aid". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  6. ^ Combs, Marianne (2020-01-08). "Minnesotans rally to help Puerto Rican friends and family". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  7. ^ Adler, Erin (September 20, 2022). "Minnesota's Puerto Rican community rallies to support island after Hurricane Fiona". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  8. ^ a b Van Berkel, Jessie (March 3, 2020). "Sanders holds Minnesota rally before primary, draws contrasts with Biden". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  9. ^ Bierschbach, Briana; Van Berkel, Jessie (October 29, 2022). "Voters of color critical to Minnesota Democrats' midterm hopes". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  10. ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (May 28, 2020). "George Floyd was once part of Houston hip-hop legend DJ Screw's crew". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  11. ^ a b Riemenschneider, Chris (July 10, 2020). "Twin Cities hip-hop vet Maria Isa remembers her friend George Floyd, preaches 'Amor Universal'". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  12. ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (January 4, 2023). "New Minnesota state Rep. Maria Isa Pérez-Vega drops a rap album the same day she's sworn in". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  13. ^ Preston, Rohan (March 4, 2016). "'DJ Latinidad' premieres at Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  14. ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (2017-04-23). "First Ave's street party provides a 'benediction' to Prince memorials". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  15. ^ Combs, Marianne (2012-12-27). "A new wave of Latino artists come into their own". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  16. ^ Star Tribune Staff (January 14, 2018). "Martin Luther King Jr. Day events around the Twin Cities". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  17. ^ Adler, Erin (January 22, 2018). "New year brings new focus for Minnesota Women's March". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  18. ^ a b Riemenschneider, Chris (January 24, 2023). "New Minnesota state Rep. Maria Isa Pérez-Vega drops a rap album the same day she's sworn in". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  19. ^ Jackson, Zoë (January 10, 2023). "'Driver's Licenses for All' campaign debuts in key Minnesota House committee". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  20. ^ a b Jackson, Zoë (March 7, 2023). "Gov. Walz signs bill granting driver's licenses to unauthorized immigrants in Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  21. ^ Deng, Grace (2023-01-04). "Give driver's licenses to Minnesota's undocumented residents, advocates say". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  22. ^ Ansari, Hibah; Journal, Sahan (December 10, 2022). "Push starting for lawmakers to grant driver's licenses to undocumented Minnesotans". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  23. ^ DePass, Dee (May 13, 2023). "Groups rushing to prepare unauthorized immigrants for Minnesota driver's ID change". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  24. ^ Jackson, Kyeland; Krauss, Louis (May 17, 2023). "Minnesota Muslims 'on edge' after sixth incident of vandalism, now arson at St. Paul mosque". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  25. ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 65B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
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