Samelys Lopez
Samelys Lopez is a Berniecrat, a term used for those democrats (generally) running for office who have expressed support of former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.[1]
Founder of Bronx Progressives.
Background
Samelys Lopez is a community organizer, member of Democratic Socialists of America, cofounder of Bronx Progressives, and candidate for New York's 15th congressional district.[2]
AOC support
Michael Grochowski February 21 2020.
AOC's Courage to Change endorses DSA member and NYC-DSA candidate Samelys López for Congress - Bronx NY-15.
In February 2020 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez launched her own political action committee to boost challengers in 2020 congressional races.
The move shows the 30-year-old New York freshman's intentions to continue battling with her party's establishment.
Ocasio-Cortez unveiled the website for her group — dubbed "Courage to Change PAC" — along with a slate of seven endorsements for female candidates who in some cases are competing against other Democrats backed by party campaign committees.
Her new group's mission statement says it "seeks to reward challengers and incumbents who display political courage — people who refuse to bow to establishment pressure, who advocate ferociously for working-class families, and who have lived the same struggles as the people they seek to represent."
Ocasio-Cortez touted House and Senate candidates who haven't served in Congress before; five are women of color.
Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez, who is running for Senate in Texas, is competing against MJ Hegar, a combat veteran who is backed by the Senate Democrats' campaign arm.
The others — Jessica Cisneros of Texas, Georgette Gomez of California, Samelys Lopez of New York, Kara Eastman of Nebraska, Marie Newman of Illinois and Teresa Leger Fernandez of New Mexico — are running in House races.
Two are running against current House Democratic incumbents — Cisneros is attempting to beat Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, a moderate eight-term member who stresses his appeal to independents and Republicans. Newman is running for the second time against Illinois Rep. Daniel Lipinski, also serving his eighth term, who some liberals have criticized for his anti-abortion rights voting record.[3]
DSA endorsed
Circa December 2019, Democratic Socialists of America endorsed Samelys Lopez in a crowded race in the 15th Congressional District and Zohran Kwame Mamdani for Assembly in the 36th District.
Lopez, a housing organizer, is hoping to win over the 15th District, which spans from where the Bronx meets the East River up to the Bronx Zoo. Born in Puerto Rico, Lopez grew up in the Bronx and has spent much of her career looking to “build power” in the borough, according to a DSA email.
The housing activist worked on grassroots campaigns for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and for Ocasio-Cortez. In the last legislative session, she worked on the Housing Justice for All campaign, which resulted in the passage of the sweeping Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act. Because Lopez experienced homelessness during her youth and spent time in the city’s shelter system, she has made housing a critical aspect of her campaign. However, her wide-reaching platform includes everything from job creation to disability rights.
Since Rep. Jose Serrano announced his retirement in April, the race for District 15’s seat has become a heated one. It’s already packed with notable New York politicians, such as Assemblyman Michael Blake, former New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and New York City Council members Ritchie Torres and Rev. Ruben Diaz, Sr. If the relatively unknown Lopez can beat out these heavyweights in the 2020 primary, her victory will show how much power a DSA endorsement really has.[4]
Socialist Feminists (DSA) Facebook page
Members of the Socialist Feminists (DSA), closed Facebook group, as of September 30, 2017 included Samelys Lopez.[5]
Faith Without Action
IDC Diaries December 17, 2017:
Faith Without Action Means Nothing For Vulnerable Immigrants
As you will hear from Padre Luis of Holyrood Episcopal Church / Iglesia Santa Cruz, faith without action means nothing for an undocumented woman named Amanda and her children who have taken refuge from ICE for the last 4 months. The seven or so DACAmented who were arrested at Sen. Schumer's office were also prayed for at the march following meeting.
During the march, I asked a DACAmented young man what he had to say about Sen. Chuck Schumer who seems to be willing to work with Trump in preventing a government shutdown without demanding the #DreamAct. He said, "Get rid of him."
On the #NoIDC front, we are mobilizing to ensure that we get rid of the #TrumpDemocrats who are preventing us from providing a basic sense of sanctuary for vulnerable immigrants like Amanda and the hundreds of DACAmented who are losing status as the days go by. #CleanDreamActNow New Sanctuary Coalition of New York City — with Samelys Lopez, Michael Cavadias, Philippe-Edner Apostol-Marius, Tiffany Wheatland, Michael Kinnucan, Mohamed Kaba, Tara Geer, Christopher Espinoza, Claire Ullman, Hawk Newsome, Susan LK, Marilyn Reyes, Nichole van Beek, Shannon S. O'Hara, Milton Allimadi and Julia Salazar.
"Sen. Jeff Klein is Smeagol from Lord of The Rings"
IDC Diaries December 24, 2017:
Sen. Jeff Klein is Smeagol from Lord of The Rings.
No one could have said it better of the role IDC Boss Sen. Jeff Klein plays in the twisted web of New York Senate politics. Fortunately, for the anti-IDC movement, Prof. Zephyr Teachout has been a forceful voice in helping understand the mechanics of how the #TrumpDemocrats align with Republican-control of New York’s Senate and what they get in return.
I can tell you that during the TownHall’s Q and A, I asked whether Prof. Teachout was considering running for the 2018 governors race. She didn’t say a word, but the packed room went boinkers for some loud moments of excitement. I mean the crown went nuts for some moments. Please share widely!
NYCD16 Indivisible, No IDC Rise and Resist True Blue NY Empire State Indivisible Alliance for Quality Education of New York Working Families Party Zephyr Teachout Lewis Kaminski Black Lives Matter of Greater New York — with Tiffany Wheatland, Michael Beltzer, Samelys Lopez, Danielle Brecker, Andrew Jacobs, Becca Lish, Sola Adenekan, Shannon Stagman, Andrew Mutnick, Susan LK, Joseph Sellman, Christiaan James Perez, Lisa DellAquila, Shannon S. O'Hara, Claire Ullman, Tammy Osherov, Honor Mosher, Leyla Martinez, Jill Greenberg and Philippe-Edner Apostol-Marius.