Justin Sanchez, the former president of the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC, has emerged victorious in the fourth round of ranked choice voting and is now the Democratic nominee for the City Council seat representing Bronx District 17.
Sanchez defeated Antirson Ortiz, securing approximately 62% of the final vote compared to Ortiz’s nearly 38%.
The official ranked choice results were announced on July 1, setting the stage for the upcoming November election, where Sanchez will compete against Conservative candidate Marisol Duran.
This seat has been held by term-limited Councilmember Rafael Salamanca Jr. and covers South Bronx neighborhoods, including Hunts Point, Longwood, and parts of Morrisania.
At 33 years old, Sanchez ran a progressive campaign that resonated strongly with voters. He utilized a straightforward and impactful slogan—“cleaning the damn streets”—which highlighted his priorities of quality-of-life improvements, sanitation issues, drug treatment, and enhancing youth programming.
Sanchez expressed excitement and humility in reaction to the results, noting the hard work and dedication that his team put into the campaign.
In a reflection on election night, he shared, “My immediate reaction was just super proud and super excited seeing all of the hard work that we did throughout the course of this campaign really come into fruition.”
Sanchez’s success in the ranked choice voting can be attributed to his strategic approach of prioritizing voters’ concerns over traditional campaigning techniques.
Instead of simply asking for votes, Sanchez and his team knocked on over 100,000 doors, seeking to understand the issues that mattered most to the constituents in the district.
“They were worried about who’s going to help them with their quality of life,” said Sanchez, emphasizing the importance of listening to the voters.
Common concerns included the need for cleaner streets, more trash cans, and better resources for individuals struggling with substance use disorders, as well as improvements to the educational system for youth.
If elected, Sanchez would make history as only the second openly gay candidate from the Bronx to serve on the City Council and the first from District 17.
The first openly gay member from the Bronx, US Representative Ritchie Torres, made his mark in 2014, while former City Council Member James Vacca publicly came out during his term in 2016.
The Bronx has witnessed instances of significant anti-LGBTQ rhetoric from former politicians such as Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. and Fernando Cabrera.
Recognizing the conservative nature of the district, Sanchez stated that his identity could have been a potential point of contention, yet his campaign stayed focused on crucial issues rather than identity politics.
He acknowledged, “We ran in a generally conservative district where these social issues could have played out in a very ugly and nasty way.”
However, Sanchez attributed his win and the strong voter mandate to his campaign’s emphasis on substantive issues like public cleanliness and community support.
“Clearly with the mandate that you saw that we got from the voters, I don’t think that [being gay] was a real top of mind issue,” he explained.
Moreover, Sanchez expressed a sense of responsibility that comes with being a queer elected official, indicating that representation for the Bronx community includes advocating for LGBTQ+ issues as well.
“I think there’s a huge responsibility not only on myself, but on all of the electeds across New York City to really stand up for those that are most marginalized, especially in the face of this federal administration,” he remarked.
As the election approaches, Sanchez’s ability to connect with voters through a community-centered campaign signals a significant shift in political engagement within the Bronx, ultimately framing his candidacy as much more than a question of identity, firmly rooted instead in addressing the everyday challenges faced by residents.
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