Martha Ayon has more than 15 years of political consulting, community advocacy, and lobbying for city and statewide campaigns. She founded Azul Public Solutions in 2017, a boutique public affairs and full-service campaign consulting firm specializing in general campaign consulting, rapid response advocacy, and workforce development.
Martha is a trailblazer in her field, being not only the first woman of color to run a Queens Borough President’s race in 2013 but was the first Latina to run a statewide campaign for Jumaane Willams for New York State Lieutenant Governor in 2018.
Martha’s political career began with an internship with former State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, who represented parts of the Bronx and lower Westchester. Witnessing the Senator fight for her marginalized constituents inspired Martha to dedicate her professional life to uplifting the disenfranchised. After that, she was district manager for newly elected State Senator Jose M. Serrano Jr., then went on to work for the first African American New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson as the Queens Liaison. She then went on to run the Queens operation for Bill Thompson during his first run for New York City Mayor in 2009.
Martha has also organized for labor unions and community groups. She also served as a statewide political advisor for New York Communities for Change in 2015 during their launch of the Fight for $15 campaign alongside labor and community groups. Martha organized and launched a statewide effort to organize women workers and allied organizations to support raising the wage. She was a citywide organizer for Local 372, District Council 37 of AFSCME. Under the leadership of President Shaun D. Francios I, she organized new union members under Pre-K, advocated alongside members for a minimum $15 an hour base wage and an expansion of free breakfast for students. She worked as a political and community organizer for the New York State Nurses Association advocating for safe staffing at all hospitals.
Martha has also worked in field and on get-out-the-vote operations of campaigns for New York State Comptroller, Senate, and Assembly, and New York City Mayor and Comptroller. Born and raised in Rego Park, Queens, Martha is the youngest daughter of Cuban immigrants. In her childhood home, her parents, other relatives, and family friends always talked politics. Martha attended New York City public schools, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the City University of New York at Queens College.