Felipe Garcia, a Hunts Point native and first-time political candidate, is challenging incumbent Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the NY-14 Democratic primary on June 23, offering an alternative to what he called “woke and socialist” politics.
Garcia, who comes from a large Puerto Rican and Dominican Catholic family, told the Bronx Times he sees victory as achievable against AOC and fellow primary candidate Marty Dolan, despite running a tiny campaign with almost no staff and just a few thousand dollars in the bank.
With Ocasio-Cortez surrounded by speculation about a run for U.S. Senate or even the presidency, now is “the perfect time” to mount a challenge, Garcia said.
“I’m planning on winning by a landslide,” he said, adding that he feels “extremely confident but humble at the same time” about his prospects.
Garcia is a former executive at Mount Sinai, where he oversaw 12 million square feet of hospital space as director of energy management and engineering. But he started as a hospital security officer, a success story he said he heavily leans on in his campaign.
“I don’t have any friends” in politics, Garcia said. “I’m not a politician, I’m an engineer.”
He attended Cardinal Hayes, City College and Baruch College, where he received a master’s degree in healthcare administration in 2020.
The idea to run for office came shortly after, when he attended a networking event in 2021 and talked with someone who seemed shocked that anyone could succeed in the Bronx.
The person “started talking bad about the Bronx,” saying that few people could make it out and adding, “‘Good thing that you left,’” Garcia said.
“That was the moment I said, who the hell is representing us? Who’s representing us that the Bronx still has a bad reputation?”
Garcia said poor leadership and bad politics mean that residents are ready for a fresh voice in Congress representing the Bronx and Queens. And of course, Ocasio-Cortez’s own upset victory in 2018 —defeating Joe Crowley by just over 4,000 votes— was a shock to the system that could potentially be repeated.
Education, safety and health
Garcia said his top campaign priority is education, which in turn impacts the economy, public safety and other important issues on residents’ minds.
Young people today need more exposure to careers beyond NYPD, FDNY, lawyer or doctor, according to Garcia. He said too many great careers, like the one he had at Mount Sinai, fly under the radar.
Garcia said he wants to add professional paths and certifications to the high school curriculum and offer guaranteed jobs upon graduation in fields such as phlebotomy, security or food handling. Many of these positions provide opportunity for advancement and are “a good kick start” even into union jobs, Garcia said. “This is something the whole country could mimic.”
He said he also prioritizes mental health, healthcare and public safety — especially after one of his cousins was shot and killed last year in Soundview. But improving educational and career prospects for young people would lead to improvement in other areas, he said.
Overall, Garcia said if elected, he would “shake up the status quo” by voting with Republicans on any proposals that benefit the district and refusing to support any bill, even by fellow Democrats, that does not allocate towards his priorities.
“It’s time to really put my district first, and the only way to do that is having someone who’s literally born and bred in the district, with no loyalty to anyone else but the upbringing that they have.”
An example of Garcia’s bipartisan thinking is his support of a ban on insider trading. He said that in the interest of fairness, political newcomers like him should lead the push to end the practice of Congress members using privileged information for personal financial gain. “This proves I’m 100% for the district and not myself,” Garcia said.
‘Woke and socialist’
Garcia said he is working hard to engage voters, many of whom are notoriously checked out during non-presidential elections.
And in New York City, it can be especially hard to reach those who are simply trying to survive and build a decent life, he said.
“I’m trying to reignite that base, and at the same time, convert some of the AOC fanatics to me,” Garcia said, adding that he twice voted for her but is now unconvinced that her representation is benefiting the district.
The issue goes far beyond any one representative. The Democratic Party today faces a much-discussed identity crisis but “was great” in the 1990s, according to Garcia. In the city, even under Republican Mayor Rudy Giuliani, “Things just ran smooth.”
But today, he said, “The Democratic Party has been hijacked by the woke and socialist party.”
With very little staff or other assistance, Garcia said he’s taken on the challenges of getting his name, style and message across to voters.
Raising money is one major hurdle. Federal Election Commission records show that Garcia’s campaign has just over $4,000 cash on hand, which he said was “not where I wanted to be, but it was not unexpected.”
He said he budgeted more than $100,000 of his own cash and credit towards the campaign and has gone all-in on himself and his ability to reach voters in his native district.
“I know how hard it is. That’s why I gotta work harder,” Garcia said.
He said his ultimate goal is for others born in the Bronx to choose to stay, believing that their success in the borough is possible.
Though he’s working strategically to become more familiar with the Queens side of NY-14, his heart and mind always stay with the Bronx. “It’s the most beautiful place in the world.”
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!
