Growing up in a multiracial family in Arizona, state Rep. Athena Salman developed a deep appreciation for our country’s rich diversity. Her maternal grandparents came from Mexico and Germany because they believe in America’s promise. Her father came from Palestine because he believed in our nation’s potential. Her mother ingrained in her that anything worth having was going to have to be fought for. Rep. Salman’s humble beginnings has led to her reputation of tirelessly working to advance the rights of frontline communities in powerful institutions. Last year, Rep. Salman’s bill sparked a national social media campaign due to the lack of feminine hygiene products for female prisoners, which led to an immediate policy change within the state Department of Corrections. She has received multiple acclaims for her fierce advocacy, including the 2018 Best Politician by the Phoenix New Times, Top 10 Newsmakers to Watch in 2019 by the Arizona Republic and the City of Tempe’s MLK Diversity Award.
Rep. Salman graduated Magna Cum Laude from Arizona State University with degrees in Economics and Political Science. She proudly runs using Arizona’s Clean Elections Program. She represents District 26 in the Arizona House of Representatives.