Michelle Ortiz has been actively involved in California and San Francisco politics for several years. She currently serves as Equality California’s Deputy Director of Development, and previously served as Equality for All’s Statewide Fundraising Director. In addition, she has managed numerous campaign propositions for communities in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Redwood City, San Mateo, and Pacifica.

Before settling in San Francisco, Michelle worked as a National Field Organizer for the Bill Bradley for President Campaign, and as a fundraiser on Cruz Bustamante’s 1998 campaign for California's Lieutenant Governor. Michelle is also an active member of the community, and has served as a board member of both the San Francisco LGBT Center and the Alice B. Toklas Club in San Francisco. She also served on former San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris's Community Advisory Committee, where she helped put together strategic plans for San Francisco neighborhoods. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin.