Lechuga-Tena worked on the unsuccessful mayoral campaign of Pete Dinelli and was a legislative analyst for the
New Mexico House of Representatives Majority Office. She was also an assistant to Mayor
Martin Chávez and was the communications director for the New Mexico Medicaid Electronic Health Records Incentive Program. Lechuga-Tena was appointed to the
New Mexico House of Representatives in November 2015 and served for one term. In 2016, she was defeated for re-election by
Debra M. Sariñana. In 2020, she was a candidate for the 20th district of the
New Mexico Senate, placing third in the Democratic primary. After
Melanie Stansbury was elected to the
United States House of Representatives in June 2021, Lechuga-Tena declared her candidacy to succeed her in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Lechuga-Tena is running for
Albuquerque City Council in 2023, facing off against retired law enforcement offerice Daniel Champine for the District 8 seat to replace retiring Councilor Trudy Jones. == Personal life ==