Laura Bustamante is the Vice President at Tonio Burgos & Associates (TBA) New Jersey. Bustamante brings a wealth of experience in local and state politics, crisis management, non-profit organizations, and campaign strategy to the firm. Noted for numerous campaign wins, Bustamante has established a solid reputation on both state and national levels.
Throughout her career, Bustamante has been instrumental in helping Democrats get elected across the state, including Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, Mayor Andre Sayegh from Paterson, and Alderwomen Karol Ruiz from Dover. Bustamante recently worked with the Union County Democratic Committee under the leadership of Senate President Scutari to help organize and improve Latino voter turnout.
Bustamante’s political career began as Chief of Staff to Jersey City Councilman James Solomon, where she led and coordinated life-saving COVID-19 information and volunteer response to residents. She also spearheaded housing and social justice initiatives and improved government transparency.
At New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice (NJAIJ), she headed advocacy efforts, crafting, managing, and executing strategies for NJAIJ’s core campaigns, which focused on making New Jersey a more welcoming and equitable state. Bustamante is the Vice Chair for the Latino Caucus for the New Jersey Democratic State Party, is on the Steering Committee for Latino Action Network, and is the Vice President of the Morris County Young Democrats.
She was named one of Insider NJ’s LGBTQ+ Power List in New Jersey and has been recognized as a rising political star. She is a Colombian immigrant and is the first in her family to graduate from college. She holds a Master of Public Administration in Public Policy and Administration and a Master of Science in Protection Management, both specializing in Emergency Management, from John Jay College. Bustamante graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Political Science and National Security from New Jersey City University.
