Cathy Rojas

Cathy Rojas (born 1990/91) is an 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,[1] Rojas received nearly 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 they need. 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.[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 launched a 14-point platform:

  1. Tax the rich
  2. Provide jobs for all and small business relief
  3. Defund the police and end police brutality
  4. Cancel all rents and mortgages
  5. Guarantee quality housing for all
  6. Upgrade and protect NYC Housing Authority
  7. Make the MTA free and public
  8. Fund quality public education
  9. End mass incarceration and cash bail
  10. Expand health care access across the city
  11. Make NYC environmentally sustainable
  12. Full equality for women and LGBTQIA+ people
  13. Full rights for all immigrants
  14. Stand with all oppressed people fighting against colonialism, imperialism and state repression[3]

Rojas staged a protest outside the mayoral debate after being barred from it due to not receiving enough campaign contributions, exclaiming "What are they afraid of?"[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%,[6] the most votes of any left-wing candidate in New York City mayoral history.

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. "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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