New American Candidates Make Waves in Primary Elections, Marking a New Era of Progressive Politics in New York

Featuring an incredible field of candidates, New York voters made their voices heard in support of trailblazing leaders during yesterday’s primary elections. Despite challenges from campaigning during coronavirus and the New York Board of Elections initial refusal to include all candidates on the ballot, yesterday’s election results show that voters are ready for a new era of progressive politics in New York. In response to the results, New American Leaders Action Fund Founder and President Sayu Bhojwani released the following statement:

“The results are clear: it’s time for a change. While we wait for some close races to be called, we’re thrilled to celebrate New American candidates like Catalina Cruz and Julia Salazar, who won their re-elections in a landslide. Other trailblazing candidates like Zohran Mamdani and Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas are leading in their races, potentially winning over an incumbent and becoming the bold, visionary leaders New York demands. 

“We are tired of pale, stale and male politicians who don’t work for us; only showing up for photo ops and tokenizing events. We’ve seen where this has gotten us and how our communities’ suffering has been ignored, underscored during the coronavirus pandemic. No more—it’s time for a democracy where every person is represented.

“Yesterday, New Yorkers used their votes as their voices and voted for a new generation of leaders. We are incredibly proud to have endorsed these visionary candidates who share our experiences, know our communities, and will lead with our shared values. They are ready to end police brutality, help our communities rebuild from coronavirus, and create a more equitable democracy. As we await the results of the remaining races, we can say we are proud of all of our endorsed candidates who stepped up to shake up politics as usual, changing the conversation and pushing all candidates to run more progressive, inclusive campaigns.”  

New American Leaders Action Fund endorsed nine candidates in local and federal races, including:

  • Samra Brouk; New York State Senate, District 55

  • Catalina Cruz; New York State Assembly, District 39

  • Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas; New York State Assembly, District 34

  • Mary Jobaida; New York State Assembly, District 37

  • Samelys Lopez; United States House of Representatives, New York’s 15th Congressional District

  • Zohran Mamdani; New York State Assembly, District 36

  • Marcela Mitaynes; New York State Assembly, District 15

  • Julia Salazar; New York State Senate, District 18

  • Phara Souffrant Forrest; New York State Assembly, District 57