Maya Rupert

Maya Rupert is a podcast host, political strategist, and writer. In 2020, she served as campaign manager for Julián Castro’s presidential campaign and is only the third Black woman to have managed a major presidential campaign. When Secretary Castro exited the race, she joined Elizabeth Warren’s campaign as a Senior Advisor. In 2021, she managed Maya Wiley’s NYC Mayoral campaign.

She is the host of When We Win with Maya Rupert, a limited series podcast with Lemonada Media. Her forthcoming book, The Real Ones: How to Disrupt the Hidden Ways Racism Makes Us Less Authentic, will be published by Dutton Books in 2026.

Maya is a nationally respected voice on progressive politics and the future of the Democratic party. She has appeared as a guest on national television and radio including for MSNBC, CNN, NPR, and SiriusXM. She has also written for publications including The New York Times, The Atlantic, Teen Vogue, and Slate. Maya has previously been awarded NABJ Salute to Excellence awards for her writing. She has been recognized by national outlets including Ebony Magazine and The Root for her leadership in the Black community. In 2025, her podcast was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Podcast – Limited Series.

Maya received her B.A. from U.C. Santa Barbara and her J.D. from U.C. Berkeley. She clerked for the Honorable Eric L. Clay of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is on the Board of Directors of the National Women’s Law Center.