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.

Early life

Rojas was born in the early 1990s 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]

Electoral record

2021 New York City mayoral election[7][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Eric Adams 753,801 66.99% +0.82%
Republican Curtis Sliwa 302,680 26.90% +2.95%
Independent Curtis Sliwa 9,705 0.86% N/A
Total Curtis Sliwa 312,385 27.76% +0.17%
Socialism and Liberation Cathy Rojas 27,982 2.49% N/A
Conservative Bill Pepitone 12,575 1.12% -2.13%
Empowerment Quanda S. Francis 3,792 0.34% N/A
Libertarian Stacey Prussman 3,189 0.28% +0.04%
Humanity United Raja Flores 2,387 0.21% N/A
Save Our City Fernando Mateo 1,870 0.17% N/A
Out Lawbreaker Skiboky Stora 264 0.02% N/A
Write-in 7,013 0.62%
Total votes 1,125,258 100.0%
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. ↑ "General Election 2021 Contest List" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. September 15, 2021.
  8. ↑ "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.
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