Spotlight on…Diana Arevalo
September 2025
You spent your early career in Washington, right?
That’s right. I had an undergraduate internship with the office of Sen. Ted Kennedy and a graduate internship with the White House Office of Public Engagement. Then after college, I had staff positions with the 2012 Democratic National Convention Committee — the convention in Charlotte — and then President Obama’s 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee. Being in the middle of those moments – the energy, the history, the late nights – it was unforgettable.
But early on, you weren’t aiming for a career in politics at the federal level?
No, that came later, although I enjoyed those experiences and learned a lot from them. But after college, I was back in San Antonio as marketing manager for Ticketmaster Entertainment. But when the recession hit, almost overnight, the marketing and public relations jobs nearly dried up. One week I was building marketing campaigns for live events, and the next I couldn’t even get hired at a grocery store. It was humbling, but it made me reevaluate my professional goals.
So what did you do?
I took a leap of faith and bet on myself. I cashed in my 401-K, packed up, and drove 1600 miles from San Antonio, Texas to Washington, D.C. A number of the people I knew from my internship with Sen. Kennedy had gone to work for the Obama Administration, and I found a place there, and never planned to leave Washington.
And then?
My father had a stroke, so I moved back to San Antonio and have been here ever since. But it wasn’t an easy transition, as satisfying as it has been. At first, I struggled to find a permanent role somewhere in the political realm— I was even told I had “too much experience” and people questioned why I left D.C. I ended up volunteering at the county Democratic Party and it provided the opportunity to get reconnected with Democratic clubs and organizations, elected leaders, etc. I discovered that in politics if you consistently show up and prove yourself to be competent, doors will open. Jobs get created, and other opportunities eventually present themselves. And that’s what happened for me.
Such as your current work?
Yes. At the ALS Association, where I’ve been for the past two years, I oversee policy and advocacy efforts across 12 states besides Texas. I’m also engaged in a great deal of coalition work, and as a result, will serve on the Council’s 2026 Advocacy Conference Advisory Board.
And you’ve not only managed political campaigns but held elective office yourself. What is that like?
In 2017, I was elected to the Texas State Legislature and served one term. And it is important for public affairs professionals to know that running for office is a very humbling, but it was exciting to reconnect with so many people I have known since childhood: old friends, teachers, parents of my friends. I think the best endorsement I received came from my grade school Principal.
Running for re-election was much harder, and it didn’t turn out so well for me.
What’s one thing that public affairs professionals should know about elected officials?
Most of them are very well-intentioned. And everyone is trying to persuade the elected official to support whatever cause is important to that interest group. But what the elected official needs most — and here is where public affairs professionals can help most — is by supplying them with facts. Not arguments but facts.
These are disorienting times not only at the federal level but at the state level as well. Any thoughts on that?
These are challenging times, and I believe we need to be more engaged and empower our advocates to lean into their lived experiences to change public policy. Whenever the process feels discouraging, it’s a reminder that showing up and participating matters so much. In every step of the legislative process, I’ve seen firsthand that when people organize, show up, and share their stories, the policy becomes personal. Moving a medigap bill in Texas was a great example of how staying focused pays. Even though my coalition and I did our parts, scheduling meetings for our advocates and registering them to testify before a committee changed the trajectory of the bill. It was the personal connection our coalition needed for a bill to start moving through the process.
What advice do you have for public affairs professionals working with state legislatures — especially for those who deal mainly with the federal government?
Federal government routinely gets the spotlight, but real innovation begins in the states. This is where reforms are initiated — policies that might make their way, eventually, to Congress. So don’t think of state-level policy as secondary. This is where you can see change play out, be tested and refined, and see what works and what doesn’t.
What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to people in the political and policy worlds for these contentious times?
I’d say you have to remain laser-focused on your policy priorities. And remember that relationships are everything. Don’t let the noise or distractions pull you off course. Finding common ground isn’t always easy, but it’s essential. You also have to keep in mind that yesterday’s intern can be tomorrow’s chief of staff, and a current legislative staff member can be tomorrow’s lawmaker.
Reach Diana at [email protected].
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But what the elected official needs most — and here is where public affairs professionals can help most — is by supplying them with facts. Not arguments but facts.
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