PODER PAC ENDORSES CARLINA RIVERA FOR CONGRESS IN NY-10
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | July 19, 2022
The only national political action committee solely dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic Latinas to Congress, PODER PAC is the latest group to endorse Carlina Rivera’s campaign.
NEW YORK, NY — Today, Carlina Rivera’s campaign for Congress in NY-10 announced the endorsement of PODERPAC, the first and only political action committee founded by and for Latinas to elect pro-choice Democratic Latinas to Congress.
“We are proud to endorse Carlina Rivera’s campaign for the U.S. Congress,” said Ingrid Duran, PODER PAC Board Chair. “Carlina has an impressive record of expanding access to reproductive care in New York City, from creating the nation's first municipal abortion fund to writing and passing legislation for free contraception and abortion pills in city-run health sites. In the uncertainty that has followed in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn decades of precedent and strip away the right to bodily autonomy, we need strong leaders like Carlina in Congress who are dedicated to protecting the rights of the marginalized and that have experience fighting for the people of our diverse communities.”
“It’s an immense honor to have the support of PODER PAC in my run for Congress, especially as we enter this post-Roe era in our country” said Carlina Rivera, candidate for NY-10.
“I know what this endorsement means in terms of expectations of my work in Congress, and I don’t take their trust in me to fight for an unabashedly pro-choice agenda lightly, but this fight isn’t new to me. In the Council, I’ve fought for increased access to abortion, contraception, and reproductive health services at large since day one of my first term, and I’ve delivered results — because when it comes to the fight for bodily autonomy and the need for cultural sensitivity around it in our communities, we need urgent action. I’m proud of my record in the Council to deliver on that, and will be grateful to continue this work in Congress with the support of the luchadoras behind PODER PAC.” - Carlina Rivera, Candidate NY-10
This announcement comes after Carlina Rivera just last week passed two pieces of legislation around abortion and reproductive care in the City Council: one to make abortion pills free at city-run health sites, and the other to fight back against predatory fake clinics via robust education campaigns to ensure people can access the care they seek.
Pointing to clear momentum in the race for NY-10, PODER PAC is the latest endorser to throw their support behind Carlina Rivera, joining Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, healthcare workers union 1199SEIU, several of her Council colleagues, and various other clubs, labor unions, and community leaders from throughout the district. The full list of endorsers is on the campaign website at carlinarivera.nyc/endorsements.
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About PODER PAC Founded in 2008, PODER PAC is the only national political action committee solely dedicated to electing Pro-Choice Democratic Latinas to Congress. An organization by Latinas and for Latinas, PODER PAC works to recruit, support, and connect Pro-Choice Democratic Latinas running for Congress. Since our founding, PODER PAC has supported over 60 candidates and has supported 91% of Latinas currently in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
About Carlina Rivera Carlina Rivera was born and raised in NY-10 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. She and her sister were raised by a single mother from Puerto Rico, who continues to work as a civilian employee for the NYPD to this day. Secure housing and reliable family income allowed Carlina to thrive, so she went into public service to help other members of her community access housing, services, and opportunity.
Carlina graduated from Marist College with a B.A. in Journalism after attending local district schools her entire life. Beginning her career in afterschool programming at some of New York City’s highest-needs schools, she went on to serve her local community, creating and organizing initiatives for seniors and New Yorkers experiencing homelessness as Director of Programs and Services at Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES), a local non-profit focused on social justice.
After a few years of working for community based organizations and serving on the local community board, Carlina realized her community needed and deserved more, so she ran for City Council and won a crowded six-way primary with over 60% of the vote. She delivered so much to her community during her first term that she won again in 2021 with 74% of the vote. Even before serving as an elected official, Carlina has a long history of bringing people together to improve New Yorkers’ lives, resources, and well-being — as a community board member, an organizer, and a key leader on the taskforce that secured funding for East River waterfront resiliency in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. After Sandy, Carlina helped coordinate thousands of volunteers to assist over 10,000 homebound residents as part of a recovery network that still supports families in the community today.
Today Carlina is a member of the New York City Council representing the 2nd Council District, which includes the East Village, Alphabet City, the Lower East Side, Flatiron, Gramercy Park, Rose Hill, Kips Bay, and Murray Hill. She currently chairs the Committee on Criminal Justice and formerly chaired the Council’s Committee on Hospitals during the height of the pandemic. She is
a member, and former co-chair, of the Women’s Caucus, and member of the Progressive Caucus as well as the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus.
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Contact: Alyssa Cass, alyssa@slingshotstrat.com, 303-912-6376
Sara Rodriguez, sara@slingshotstrat.com, 609-238-5363
PODER PAC, press@poderpac.com