Maria holds a degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in HR management. Her political engagement started in the Spanish Socialist Youth. She has been city councillor in Cintruénigo and regional councillor in Navarra. In 2011, she became Senator and  spokesperson of the PSOE group in the Senate. In 2014 she was elected as Secretary General of the Socialist party of Navarra. From 2015 to 2019, she led the Socialist party in the regional parliament of Navarra and since 2019, she is the President of the autonomous region of Navarra (reconfirmed in 2023).