The Democratic pre-candidate for Governor of New York Jumaane Williams presented this Monday the Hispanic activist Ana María Archila as his running mate and who will compete with him for the position of lieutenant governor. In this way, Williams completes her team to compete in the Democratic primary elections of 28 June against the current president Kathy Hochul and the lieutenant governor Brian Benjamin.
Introducing her running mate at an event in ‘Foley Square’ in Lower Manhattan, Williams stressed that Archila is a Colombian immigrant who arrived in this country at years, and has become a state and national leader in the fight for immigrant rights, workplace justice, LGBTQ equality, and women’s rights.
Williams , who currently serves as Ombudsman for the Big Apple, noted that in one of the best decades the US economy has ever recorded, “New York families were bled dry by building owners, hospital administrators, university treasurers and child care centers. Those interests have had a foothold in Albany for far too long, which is why we need a Lieutenant Governor like Ana Maria, who has always stood up to a status quo that doesn’t work for New Yorkers.”
Archila is a co-founder and co-leader of several New York-based progressive organizations, including Make the Road NY, and William noted about her: “She has spent her entire career fighting the uphill battle to support and uplift ordinary people, and she has won. Together we will make the change that is needed to make New York more affordable, livable and equitable for all families.”
And this very Monday, this duo of progressive Democrats, Williams and Archila, received backed by the ‘New York Working Families Party.’ too hard to get the medical care we need. After four years of Trump and two years of the global pandemic, we still have a Governor and a Lieutenant Governor who serve the interests of billionaires and large corporations,” Archila said, adding that New Yorkers “deserve leaders who put working people first of all, face the moment and fight for a real transformation”.
Among some of the actions of the last Archila’s years, one of the 2018 stands out when he confronted former Arizona Senator Jeff Flake about controversial Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The following year, she joined Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as the guest of honor at the State of the Union of 2018.
“Jumaane Williams and Ana María Archila are consummate leaders with decades of political and executive experience,” said Sochie Nnaemeka, director of the Working Families Party of New York.
“Ana María is a brave and fierce defender of women, immigrants and working New Yorkers. If we want a future with universal health care, universal child care, affordable housing for all, and a green economy, we need Jumaane Williams and Ana María Archila at the helm. Our party couldn’t be more excited to support this bold and powerful bid,” she added.