Saldaña's political career began in the National Action Party (PAN), where he was a poll observer in 1988 and a general representative in 1994. He also was involved with local positions in the Veracruz, Veracruz city government, particularly on ecological matters and parks, and was a town councilor there from 1997 to 2000 and its secretary of government from 2001 to 2004. In 2001, Saldaña obtained a law degree from the Centro de Estudios Superiores México.
