Emily Benavides has spent 20 years strategically advising federal and presidential candidates, super PACs, former Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), and nonprofits on how to own their narrative. Benavides currently serves as Vice President, Government Affairs at UnitedHealth Group. Prior to UnitedHealth Group, she served as Chief of Staff for Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05). A seasoned spokesperson, she has hosted a podcast and appeared on both English and Spanish language media across the United States and internationally.
Benavides spent nearly seven years working with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), strategically advising him on his media presence in her home state of Ohio and nationwide. When Portman served as Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member, Benavides served as Communications Director for the committee. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has jurisdiction over the entire federal government, giving Benavides expertise in everything from cybersecurity to border security to permitting and postal reform.
Prior to joining Portman’s Washington, DC Senate office, Benavides worked on the Jeb! 2016 presidential campaign as Traveling Press Secretary and Hispanic Communications Director. Throughout the 2016 primary, she managed Governor Jeb Bush’s media booking, surrogate booking, and Hispanic media operations as well as managing media on the ground across the country while traveling with the candidate.
In 2014, she served as Communications Director for Governor Rick Snyder’s victorious re-election campaign in Michigan. In this capacity, she managed communications strategy for the campaign, building a content driven media engagement plan in coordination with a forward-thinking digital campaign.
During the 2012 election cycle, Benavides was Florida Press Secretary and National Hispanic Press Secretary for the Romney campaign, and prior to that, Specialty Press Secretary for the Republican National Convention in Tampa.
Benavides was named one of the 40 under 40: Latinos in American Politics by The Huffington Post in 2014. They went on call her “one of the Republican Party’s top Latina communications operatives.” In 2015, she was recognized by Cosmo for Latinas with a Fun, Fearless award for outstanding contributions in the political arena. In 2021, the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute honored Benavides with the Vermillion Congressional Staff Appreciation Award. She currently serves on the advisory board for the GOP Latino Staff Association.
When she’s not working, Benavides can be found doting on her two kids, Lidia and John Michael.