Nathalie Rayes, who worked on the staffs of then-Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn and then-City Councilman Mike Feuer, was Wednesday confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as ambassador to Croatia — the first Latina to be elevated to the position.
“I am humbled and honored to be confirmed as Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia,” Rayes wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, Wednesday evening. “I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to the Biden Administration, to the U.S. Senate, and to leader @SenSchumer (Sen. Chuck Schumer) for the trust bestowed one me through this vote.”
The Senate confirmed Rayes in a 53-47 vote.
“I promise to always lead and serve with integrity and in the best interest of our country, while continuing to strengthen our diplomatic relations with the people of Croatia,” she added.
Rep. Nanette Barragán, a Democrat who represents California’s 44th Congressional District and co-chair of the Congressional Croatian Caucus, in a statement said she has “full confidence” that Rayes is the “right person for the job.”
“Nathalie Rayes is a proven leader and public servant with extensive experience in the private and public sectors who is dedicated to building cross-cultural relationships and will be a great ambassador to Croatia,” Barragán said in a statement. “As a trusted EU ally and fellow NATO member, the United States and Croatia have deep economic cultural, and security ties.”
Barragán continued to praise Rayes for her years of expertise in international affairs, recognizing that she will “deepen partnerships between the two nations and build upon 30 years of diplomatic ties.”
The congresswoman also noted Rayes established the city of Los Angeles’ first Office of Immigrant Affairs and she also worked to develop close ties and sister-city relationships with cities in El Salvador, Lebanon, and Italy.
“She has shown an ability to build consensus across a broad range of stakeholders in her work as CEO of Latino Victory and has further enhanced her foreign affairs and policy experience through her work as member of the U.S. Institute for Peace Board of Directors, and her time in the State Department,” Barragán said. “Nathalie is exceedingly qualified for this ambassadorship and will be the first Latina in this position.”
President Joe Biden nominated Rayes for the position May 5, praising her “distinguished career in public service as a leader, consensus builder and advocate.”
With Wednesday’s confirmation, Rayes is the second Angeleno in recent months to become a U.S. ambassador. Former Mayor Eric Garcetti officially became the ambassador to India in March, following a nearly two-year process in which he was dogged by allegations he ignored accusations of assault and sexual harassment against a former top aide.
Garcetti’s nomination was long stalled at the committee level but finally made it to the Senate floor, where it passed 52-42, with seven Republicans crossing the aisle to vote in favor of Garcetti and three fellow Democrats voting no.
Rayes began her career in government as a field deputy for Feuer. She later became a senior advisor to Feuer, who represented Council District 5 from 1995-2001.
Rayes then became deputy chief of staff for Hahn, managing the Office of Intergovernmental Relations, International Trade, Protocol and helped established the city’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.
Rayes is president and CEO of Latino Victory, which describes itself as a progressive organization working to grow Latino political power by increasing Latino representation at every level of government and building a base of Latino donors.
She was vice president of public affairs for the Mexican conglomerate Grupo Salinas, responsible for its philanthropic activities in the United States.
Biden previously appointed Reyes as a member of the Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace.
Rayes is also secretary of the Board of Directors of the nonprofit Hispanic Federation, vice chair of the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, chair of the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality Binational Advisory Group, and advisory board member of the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program.
She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, appointed by then-President Barack Obama.
Rayes received a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s in public policy from UCLA.