A Democratic New York state Senate candidate declared “socialism wins” during the celebration of her victory in the primary election.
Kristen Gonzalez, a tech worker who was backed by the Democratic Socialists of America and NY Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, made the statement to her supporters last week.
“I know we’re saving the speeches for a little later, but today we really proved that socialism wins!” she said as others cheered.
“We are not going anywhere, and we will not stop until we see a socialist slate across this city!” she added.
According to the Board of Elections in the City of New York, Gonzalez led opponent Liz Crowley with 58.14% of the vote.
On her platform, Gonzalez promised “free healthcare,” “aggressive action on climate,” to “cancel student debt,” to “build a Green New York,” “Good Cause rent protections” to make it harder for landlords to evict tenants, and to “make sure our neighborhoods stay working-class and diverse.”
“We need to tax the rich to finally invest in public housing, and build hundreds of thousands of new, affordable, and green homes to solve the housing crisis and start building a Green New York for all,” her campaign website says.
She is also running on a platform of “queer liberation,” reported Fox News.
“Trans and queer right are under attack, with our Black and brown siblings disproportionately affected. These attacks overwhelmingly focus on youth and schools, but they are only the beginning of a larger attack on queer identities and bodily autonomy,” it reads.
“In order to fully achieve queer liberation, we must directly address the attacks on queer and trans rights, along with ensuring our housing, healthcare, and education system are intersectional and provide dignity for all,” Gonzalez added.
“Neighborhoods across Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens resoundingly elected a 27-year-old socialist Latina to the New York state legislature,” she said, according to QNS.com.
“Tonight, we didn’t just prove that socialists can still win, but that our movement is undoubtedly growing,” she continued.
Gonzalez was part of the final intern class in the Obama administration and is a former staffer for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
“Democrats aren’t even hiding it anymore,” said Republican National Committee spokeswoman Nicole Morales to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“Claiming victory for socialism is a slap in the face to the hundreds of thousands of victims and survivors of socialism. Instead of embracing failed ideologies, Democrats should read a history book,” she added.
Lawyer and journalist Jennifer Barreto-Leyva tweeted “Kristen González is not only ignorant but is also dangerous. Socialism kills.”
In part of a Twitter thread thanking her supporters, Gonzalez said “We’ll pass bills like #GoodCause and #BuildPublicRenewables. Not someday, but next year. And socialism will win, because #WeMakeNewYork.”
