A must-watch conversation with Leo Martinez, candidate for the VA-11th Special Election
A discussion with Ade Ferro on authoritarianism, federal worker layoffs, and the fight for our democracy
Latino Victory proudly endorsed Leo Martinez yesterday in his campaign for the June 28th Special Election in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. In a must-watch livestream conversation with Venezuelan American Caucus Executive Director Ade Ferro, Leo Martinez shared his perspective shaped by personal experience, legal training, and years of public service. A graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law, a former Venezuelan congressman, and a longtime resident of Fairfax County, Leo is stepping up to serve his community — and Latino Victory is proud to support his campaign.
“It feels like full circle in a way,” Martinez said.“It’s a journey of a decade or more in building Latino political power.”
He continued: “It couldn't be more humbling to me… that Latino Victory comes and backs me up with all the strength and the network and the power it represents today in American politics.”
From Caracas to Congress
Martinez’s story begins in Venezuela, where he served in the National Assembly during Chávez’s rise to power. “I was elected to Congress with a mission to provide change,” he said. “Chávez took another path — a path of growing authoritarianism. And I became a strong voice.”
That resistance came at a cost. “That high cost came with persecution… impacting my integrity as an individual, but also the integrity and safety of my loved ones,” he said. Eventually, Martinez and his wife Ana Luisa made the difficult decision to flee with their four children.
“We didn’t know for how long this was going to be,” he said. “We saw in the United States the three characteristics that make me run today: a country of immigrants that welcomed immigrants, an economy of opportunity… and a beacon of democracy and the rule of law.”
He spent the next two decades rebuilding his life — raising a family in Fairfax County, earning a degree from Harvard Law, advising the Department of Commerce, and advocating for democracy and immigrant rights across the Americas.
“Estamos Hablando Con Nuestra Gente”
Martinez is running in one of the most diverse districts in the country — and he knows what that means. “District 11… encompasses most of Fairfax County,” he explained. “Maybe 40 to 42% of the people who live in the district have an immigrant root.”
“We’re talking to them. We’re going to their community… Estamos hablando con nuestra gente. En español.”
His coalition reflects that diversity. “People who have problems… our immigrant communities… will have in me somebody that not only listens to them, but somebody that sees them.”
A Fierce Defender of Federal Workers
Martinez has issued a sharp warning about what’s happening to civil servants in Northern Virginia: “They were brought back through a federal court order… and you know what they did to them? They have them in a basement without an assignment.”
“They want to cut the heads of our civil service,” he said. “We’re going to take the side of the unions… we’re going to fight with them, all the step of the way.”
The dismantling of departments like Education, he added, has real consequences. “What’s going to happen with special needs education across our county?” he asked. “These are the kind of fights we’re in.”
A Red Line for Democracy
Asked what’s truly at stake, Martinez didn’t hesitate: “This is the red line.”
“Since Donald Trump appeared, every election… has become more consequential than the other,” he said. “He’s doing it in a more sophisticated way this time. He has all the learning curve of his first administration.”
Martinez knows these tactics all too well. “I come from the future,” he said. “Because many of the things we’re seeing, I already saw. And I know what works and what doesn’t.”
He sees an authoritarian strategy that blends chaos with economic fear. “They want to make this transfer of opportunity and wealth to the hands of the very few,” he warned. “To the detriment of those in the middle class, in the working class, and in the small business community.”
Hope Is the Message
To voters who feel discouraged, Martinez offered this:
“Running in this particular moment is also making a statement,” he said. “We’re not giving up on America, people. No vamos a permitir que nos conviertan a este país que tanto amamos en algo absolutamente diferente.”
He reminded viewers that political fatigue is part of the strategy: “They want us to get tired, not go out to vote… come to the conclusion that our vote doesn’t matter.”
But for Martinez, the message is clear: “Let’s make a strong statement… for our very presence as part of the American experience.”
What You Can Do
Support Leo’s campaign: This is a short sprint of a campaign. Every dollar goes directly to voter contact. Link: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/leo-martinez
Vote: If you’re registered to vote in the Virginia 11th, the firehouse primary is June 28 — just days away. The general election will be held on September 9.
Volunteer: Sign up to text or phone bank — it’s fun, remote, and crucial.
“You’ll get a list of 10–20 people to call. If enough of us do it, we’ll reach thousands.” Link: https://www.leomartinezforcongress.com/volunteer
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