Ana Navarro: Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we continue to recognize the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of notable immigrants and refugees who’ve helped shape America’s vibrant tapestry. Today, we spotlight political strategist and commentator, Ana Navarro.

Ana Navarro was born in Chinandega, Nicaragua, in 1971. At eight years old, she and her family immigrated to the United States due to political turmoil from the Sandinista Revolution, settling in Miami, Florida. Navarro’s experiences fleeing Nicaragua as a child during a time of unrest sparked her interest in politics from a young age. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin American studies and political science from the University of Miami. She later earned her Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law in 1997.

In college, Navarro campaigned for the support of Nicaraguan refugees, and as a law student, she fought for their asylum cases as Nicaragua’s Contra-Sandinista conflict raged on.

Following her education, Navarro first became active in the Republican Party. She served on several administrations, namely for Jeb Bush and John McCain. Navarro also acted as ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and the National Co-Chair of the Hispanic Advisory Council. During this time, she gained valuable insight into the mechanics of American politics, and in 2014, she became a political commentator for ABC News.

Navarro’s work on screen has brought her international recognition, as she has presented news in both English and Spanish for CNN and ABC. Often an outspoken voice among her party, Navarro has never shied away from standing up for the marginalized; in 2019, she was given the Ally Leadership Award by Equality California for her support of the LGBTQ+ community. The Carnegie Corporation of New York honored Navarro with the Great Immigrants Award in 2020.

In 2022, Navarro became a permanent co-host of ABC’s daytime talk show The View, for which she has received multiple Daytime Emmy Award nominations.