Veronica Paiz is a Democratic state representative serving Michigan's 10th House District, which includes northeast Detroit, Harper Woods, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Shores, and Grosse Pointe Woods. Born September 23, 1957, in San Antonio, Texas, she is a second-generation Mexican American whose family moved to Michigan from Texas in the 1960s for auto industry work. A longtime resident of Harper Woods for over 26 years with her husband Alex Rogowski, Paiz previously lived in Detroit neighborhoods including Morningside, East English Village, and Cornerstone Village. She was first elected to the Michigan House in 2022 for the 11th district and won reelection in the 10th district in 2024 following redistricting, now serving her second term.

Notable achievements include advocating for reproductive freedom, affordable food, health care and housing, pension safeguards, lower child care costs, disability protections, insurance reform, and water infrastructure improvements. She has passed legislation on tax breaks for retirees and families, accessible healthcare, workers’ rights, gun safety, and environmental protections. Paiz serves on committees like the Michigan Municipal League’s Legislative Municipal Services Committee and Elections Sub-Committee, and as an executive board member of the Michigan Democratic Party Hispanic Latino Caucus.

Education and Political Experience

Education: Paiz earned a BFA in photography from Wayne State University , an MA in studio arts from New York University , and completed the Latino Museum Studies Program at the Smithsonian Institution in 2006.

Political Experience: Prior to the state House, Paiz served nearly eight years on the Harper Woods City Council , eight years on the Harper Woods Library Board and Recreation Advisory Board, and on the Ordinance and Beautification Committees. She acted as an unofficial council liaison to the Police K-9 Program fundraising committee.

Professional and Community Roles: Community arts coordinator at Focus: HOPE , overseeing pen-pal and cultural diversity programs; executive director of Casa de Unidad cultural center , managing literacy, arts, and seminars; and roles at Detroit Public TV . Additional community service includes Harper Woods Helping Hands food bank , Focus: HOPE volunteer , and Harper Woods Neighborhood Economic Development Coalition.