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The Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) is an organization based in California that promotes the interests of Mexican-Americans, Mexicans, Latinos, Chicanos, Hispanics, and Latino economic refugees in the United States. Founded in 1960, with the goal to further incorporate Mexican-Americans into American society through increased voter turnout and election to public office, MAPA, alongside the rest of the Political Association of Spanish-Speaking Organizations (PASSO), developed from the Viva Kennedy Campaign to elect John F. Kennedy president.

History
The Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) was organized by 150 volunteer delegates at Fresno in April 1960 as a means to elect Mexican American candidates to public office. Edward R. Roybal, later elected to the United States House of Representatives, served as its first chair/president. During the 1960 election, MAPA campaigned heavily on behalf of the Kennedy campaign. Throughout the 1960s, MAPA was active in the Civil Rights Movement and the Chicano political movement. MAPA members also aided Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers in political and labor negotiations. They also realized their first electoral victories that year. During the 1970s, MAPA saw more successful campaigns by Mexican American candidates, but also won important appointments in the administration of California Governor Jerry Brown. The 1980s were characterized by continued efforts to elect Mexican American candidates, and in the 1990s MAPA was a co-filer of the suit against Proposition 187.

In 2009, the group fell under scrutiny after MAPA president Nativo Lopez was charged with voter fraud.

In recent years, many Mexican-Americans see MAPA as no longer useful, that with the increased integration of Latinos in American society and politics, the organization has accomplished its founding goals.

Structure
MAPA is a grass roots-based coalition with an organizational structure that functions as a collective of communal circles working together, at different levels, towards political empowerment, self-determination and sustainability of the Latino community’s future. Its primary goal is community-focused political action.

MAPA is officially a non-partisan organization and welcomes members of any political affiliation.

Presidents

 * Edward Roybal, 1960–1962
 * Julius Castellum, 1962
 * Eduardo Quevedo, 1963–1966
 * Bert Corona, 1966–1971
 * Armando Rodriguez, 1971–1973
 * Margaret Cruz, 1973–1975
 * Manuel Lopez, 1975 – 1977
 * Eduardo Sandoval, 1977 – 1981
 * Julio Calderon, 1981 – 1983
 * Fernando Chavez, 1983 – 1985
 * Beatriz Molina, 1985 – 1989
 * Ben Benavidez, 1989 – 1995
 * Hector Brolo, 1995 – 1997
 * Ben Benavidez, 1997 – 1999
 * Gloria Torres, 1999 – 2001
 * Ben Benavidez, 2001 – 2003
 * Nativo Lopez, 2004–2012
 * Juan "Ralphy" Avitia, 2013–2015

Tactics
To accomplish the goal of political empowerment for Mexican Americans, MAPA trains campaign workers, registers voters, raises funds, lobbies officials, endorses candidates, and monitors judicial appointments. They have also used grassroots tactics, public relations, and demonstrations.