Cathy Rojas

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Cathy Rojas
Cathy Rojas 2020.png
Rojas in 2020
BornOctober 1991 (age 33)
Political party Socialism and Liberation

Cathy Rojas (born October 1991) is a Colombian-American educator and political activist who was the Party for Socialism and Liberation's candidate for mayor of New York City in the 2021 election. A public school teacher by trade, Rojas received around 2.5% of the vote in the mayoral election, placing third.

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Early life

Rojas was born in 1991 to two Colombian immigrants in Queens, New York. She speaks English and Spanish. Her father was an auto body painter, and her mother a housekeeper. She experienced racism from a young age, and in public school was made aware of the fact that students were expelled or arrested instead of being offered the mental health services. Rojas became a socialist after reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X in high school. She worked as a hostess, a waitress, a bartender, and a cook before becoming a teacher. [1] [2]

Mayoral campaign

Rojas launched her mayoral campaign on June 28, 2021, in front of the First Spanish United Methodist Church in East Harlem, a church known for its occupation by the Young Lords in 1969. She ran on a hard leftist and socialist platform. [3]

Rojas did not qualify for the mayoral debates due to her poor fundraising numbers, and led a protest where the debate was held. [1] [4]

Rojas was endorsed by Julia Salazar, a New York state senator, former City Council candidates Moumita Ahmed and Carolyn Tran, [5] and Kristin Richardson Jordan, an activist and council member.

Rojas received 27,982 votes, or 2.49% in the election, which was easily won by Democrat Eric Adams. [6] The vote total was the highest of any Socialist or left wing candidate, since 1953 and the highest percentage since 1949. [7]

Electoral record

Support for Rojas in the 2021 mayoral election by State Assembly district:
<1%      >1%      >2%      >3%      >4%      >5%      >6%      >8% 2021 New York City mayoral election results map by State Assembly district - Cathy Rojas.svg
Support for Rojas in the 2021 mayoral election by State Assembly district:
     <1%     >1%     >2%     >3%     >4%     >5%     >6%     >8%
2021 New York City mayoral election [8] [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Eric Adams 753,801 66.99% +0.82%
Republican Curtis Sliwa302,68026.90%+2.95%
IndependentCurtis Sliwa9,7050.86%N/A
Total Curtis Sliwa 312,38527.76%+0.17%
Socialism and Liberation Cathy Rojas27,9822.49%N/A
Conservative Bill Pepitone12,5751.12%−2.13%
EmpowermentQuanda S. Francis3,7920.34%N/A
Libertarian Stacey Prussman3,1890.28%+0.04%
Humanity United Raja Flores 2,3870.21%N/A
Save Our City Fernando Mateo 1,8700.17%N/A
Out LawbreakerSkiboky Stora2640.02%N/A
Write-in 7,0130.62%
Total votes1,125,258 100.0%
Democratic hold

References

  1. 1 2 Nichols, John (November 2021). "Meet the Socialist Candidate for NYC Mayor". The Nation .
  2. "Cathy Rojas Offers Working-Class New Yorkers an Alternative".
  3. "Socialist Cathy Rojas announces run for New York City mayor". Liberation News .
  4. "Socialist barred from NYC major debate". Liberation News .
  5. "Endorsement Watch".
  6. "Results of the General Election". Spectrum News .
  7. "25,000 in NYC vote for a socialist mayor". Liberation News .
  8. "General Election 2021 Contest List" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. September 15, 2021.
  9. "Statement and Return Report | for Certification | General Election 2021 - 11/02/2021 | Crossover - All Parties and Independent Bodies" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. November 29, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.