 At age 25 and newly graduated from college, Berrios ran unopposed in the 2002 primary and general elections.Berrios was the first Puerto Rican American woman to serve in the Illinois House of Representatives.Berrios' political action committee, Citizens for Maria A. Berrios, has received campaign contributions from many of the same property tax appeal law firms that contribute to the multiple campaign funds controlled by her father, Joseph Berrios, who is the Cook County Assessor and a former Commissioner on the Cook County Board of Review.