The organization endorsed 11 Latino candidates, comprising mostly of Latina candidates, running for New York City council.
Washington, D.C.– Today, Latino Victory Fund announced a wave of endorsements for candidates running for the New York City Council. The 11 candidates are Shaun Abreu, District 7; Diana Ayala, District 8; Tiffany Cabán, District 22; Carmen De La Rosa, District 10; Amanda Farías, District 18; Nathalia Fernandez, Bronx Borough president; Jennifer Gutierrez, District 34; Francisco Moya, District 21; Carlina Rivera, District 2; Pierina Sanchez, District 14; and Marjorie Velazquez, District 13.
The primary election will take place on Tuesday, June 22nd, 2021, and the general election will be on Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021.
Nathalie Rayes, Latino Victory Fund President & CEO:
“The New York City Council represents more than two million Latinos, and the upcoming council elections are a prime opportunity to increase Latino representation in this important governing body. Helping elect these 11 Latino candidates will help bring the Latino community’s issues and concerns into the room where decisions are made. Our city council candidates have dedicated their careers to effecting positive change and improving their communities. Many faced trying challenges that informed their desire to fight for equity in housing, health care, education, and economic opportunities for underserved communities. We proudly support their candidacies because they have a robust track record of public service and social justice advocacy, and they will continue to imprint their vision in the New York City Council.”
Meet the Candidates:
Shaun Abreu, District 7
- Shaun Abreu is running to become the first Latino to represent New York City Council District 7. He has spent years advocating for the community in the 7th District, defending tenants’ rights, and fighting for working families. Learn more about Shaun Abreu here.
Councilwoman Diana Ayala, District 8
- Councilwoman Ayala has worked for nearly two decades serving the New York City Council’s 8th District in social service agencies and government. She’s an advocate for issues that impact her community, including housing, gun violence, and senior services. Learn more about Diana Ayala here.
Tiffany Cabán, District 22
- If she is elected, Cabán would be the first Latina and the first woman of color to represent District 22. Throughout her career, Cabán has used the law to help New York City’s most vulnerable communities. She’s running to bring bold solutions to uplift her community, and her top priorities are education, housing, expanding small business opportunities, establishing a caring economy, and implementing a Green New Deal for New York City. Learn more about Tiffany Cabán here.
Assemblywoman Carmen De La Rosa, District 10
- Assemblywoman De La Rosa would be the first Latina to represent District 10 if elected. She is a three-term Assembly Member in the 72nd Assembly District. As the only Dominican woman elected in 2016, she led the passage of the New York State Dream Act to provide access to education to all students, regardless of immigration status and worked with organizers and advocates to reshape the lives of tenants. Learn more about Carmen De La Rosa here.
Amanda Farías, District 18;
- Farías’ top priorities are criminal justice reform, jobs and economy, housing, and immigration. Learn more about Amanda Farías here.
Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernández, Bronx Borough President
- Assemblywoman Fernández would be the first woman and first Latina elected Bronx Borough President. She is the daughter of immigrants, currently serves as the Assemblywoman for the 80th District, a position she has held since 2018. Her priority issues for the Bronx include a focus on COVID-19 recovery, environmental justice, and affordable housing. Learn more about Nathalia Fernández here.
Jennifer Gutierrez, District 34
- Gutierrez is running to keep people in their homes, to provide real solutions to a community disproportionately impacted by over-policing, environmental racism, and oversaturated with luxury housing. Learn more about Jennifer Gutierrez here.
Councilman Francisco Moya, District 21
- Councilman Moya represents New York City Council’s 21st District, a position he’s held since 2017. In 2010, Moya made history when he was elected to the 39th Assembly District, becoming the first Ecuadorian-American elected to public office in the United States. Moya has been a champion for working-class families, fighting to pass legislation that would preserve union rights, improve workplace safety and strengthen worker protections. Learn more about Francisco Moya here.
Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, District 2
- Councilwoman Rivera is a community organizer, non-profit leader, former legislative staffer, and councilwoman representing the 2nd District. Rivera has established herself as a champion of affordable housing, healthcare reform, reproductive justice, small business relief, and child welfare policy. Learn more about Carlina Rivera here.
Pierina Sanchez, District 14
- Sanchez began her career in public policy and urban planning in 2007, advocating to expand early education programs at Agenda for Children Tomorrow and helping immigrant families stabilize their status. Sanchez was recently a senior advisor for housing, economic development, and labor in City Hall. Her top issues include advocating for housing as a human right, economic opportunity through economic democracy, and high quality, healing-centered, and strengths-based education. Learn more about Perina Sanchez here.
Marjorie Velázquez, District 13
- Marjorie Velázquez is running to become the first Latina to represent New York City Council District 13. Her top priority issues are Covid-19 recovery, which has heavily impacted her community, food insecurity, job creation, an overall plan to invest in people in housing, healthcare access, and environmental protections. Learn more about Marjorie Velázques here.
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The Latino Victory Fund is a progressive political action committee with the mission of growing Latino political power by increasing Latino representation at every level of government – from the school board to the Senate to the White House.
