The Unlikely Candidate: Breaking Barriers to Elected Office and Beyond
By Diana Maldonado
A single mom. A Latina. Not Ivy League. Not wealthy. Not "connected." But when her community needed a new voice in Texas politics, Diana didn't wait for permission-she ran.
In The Unlikely Candidate, Diana tells the story of how she defied expectations to become the first Latina-and the first woman-elected to represent her district in the Texas House of Representatives. With grit, clarity, and a focus on real-life lessons, she shares:
What it's like to run for office without insider accessHow she raised nearly $1 million without generational wealth or political cloutThe backlash she faced from unexpected placesThe emotional and financial challenges of running for officeAnd how she is using her experience to open doors for others
More than a campaign memoir, The Unlikely Candidate is a guide and inspiration for those ready to step into public leadership-even when the odds are against them.