House Member

Wenona Benally currently serves as a State Representative for Legislative District 7. She has been appointed to serve on the Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and the Rules Committee. This is her first term in the Legislature and her first time serving in elected public office.

Wenona is an Arizona native and is a member of the Navajo Nation. She grew up in Kayenta, Arizona, where she graduated salutatorian from Monument Valley High School. Following high school, she went on to attend Arizona State University and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She is also a graduate of Barrett, the Honor's College at ASU.

She holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Harvard Law School and a Master in Public Policy degree from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Wenona began her law career working as an attorney for law firms in Washington, D.C. and Portland, Oregon. Since that time, she has worked as a consultant for a nonprofit organization, a research analyst at ASU and an attorney and executive director for two Indian tribal governments in Arizona.

Wenona is married to Salomon F. Baldenegro, a native of Tucson.

Most importantly, Wenona has a strong awareness and bestowed interest in Arizona; she continues to be an advocate for education and healthcare. She knows she can make a difference and believes strongly in protecting all people's rights in our great Grand Canyon state.