Anna was a teacher for five years for the Tolleson Elementary School District, served on the Tolleson City Council for seven and a half years, and was Vice Mayor for two years until she joined the House of Representatives and served as Minority Whip. In 2013, she entered the Senate where she served as the District 19 representative advocating for Avondale, Tolleson, West Phoenix and the entire state.

While at the Senate, she served as the Senate Minority Leader, was Latino Caucus Chair, and served as a committee member of the Senate Judiciary, Senate Appropriations, Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the Joint Committee on Capital Review. As Senator Tovar, she developed a well-earned reputation as a legislator who fought for the dignity of underserved people.

Upon completing her time at the Senate, she went on to work as a Campaign Director for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She raised funds to find a cure for cancer and to assist cancer patients. In 2011, she championed the effort to restore funding for nearly 100 patients on the bone marrow transplant list, saving many lives. As a two-time cancer survivor, Anna remains determined to find a cure.

In 2016, Anna was elected as Mayor of Tolleson, Arizona. She is the first female to hold this prestigious office. During her time as Mayor, Anna has worked to ensure all citizens’ of Tolleson have an opportunity for a quality education and good paying jobs. She has supported local businesses and sustainable economic development as a principal cornerstone of her governance and focused on developing regional partnerships and collaborating with local and state elected officials to advocate for all residents. In November 2020, Anna was elected to the Arizona Corporation Commission and is the first Latina to hold statewide office.