With Ocasio-Cortez surrounded by speculation about a run for U.S. Senate or even the presidency, now is \u201cthe perfect time\u201d to mount a challenge, Garcia said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m planning on winning by a landslide,\u201d he said, adding that he feels \u201cextremely confident but humble at the same time\u201d about his prospects.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have any friends\u201d in politics, Garcia said. \u201cI\u2019m not a politician, I\u2019m an engineer.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
He attended Cardinal Hayes, City College and Baruch College, where he received a master\u2019s degree in healthcare administration in 2020.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The person \u201cstarted talking bad about the Bronx,\u201d saying that few people could make it out and adding, \u201c\u2018Good thing that you left,\u2019\u201d Garcia said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the moment I said, who the hell is representing us? Who\u2019s representing us that the Bronx still has a bad reputation?\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
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\u2019s own upset victory in 2018 \u2014defeating Joe Crowley by just over 4,000 votes<\/a>\u2014 was a shock to the system that could potentially be repeated.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Education, safety and health\u00a0<\/p>\n Garcia said his top campaign priority is education, which in turn impacts the economy, public safety and other important issues on residents\u2019 minds.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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 \u201ca good kick start\u201d even into union jobs, Garcia said. \u201cThis is something the whole country could mimic.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he also prioritizes mental health, healthcare and public safety \u2014 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Overall, Garcia said if elected, he would \u201cshake up the status quo\u201d 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s time to really put my district first, and the only way to do that is having someone who\u2019s literally born and bred in the district, with no loyalty to anyone else but the upbringing that they have.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n An example of Garcia\u2019s 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. \u201cThis proves I\u2019m 100% for the district and not myself,\u201d Garcia said.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u2018Woke and socialist\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n Garcia said he is working hard to engage voters, many of whom are notoriously checked out during non-presidential elections.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m trying to reignite that base, and at the same time, convert some of the AOC fanatics to me,\u201d Garcia said, adding that he twice voted for her but is now unconvinced that her representation is benefiting the district.\u00a0<\/p>\n The issue goes far beyond any one representative. The Democratic Party today faces a much-discussed identity crisis but \u201cwas great\u201d in the 1990s, according to Garcia. In the city, even under Republican Mayor Rudy Giuliani, \u201cThings just ran smooth.\u201d<\/p>\n But today, he said, \u201cThe Democratic Party has been hijacked by the woke and socialist party.\u201d\n<\/p>\n With very little staff or other assistance, Garcia said he\u2019s taken on the challenges of getting his name, style and message across to voters.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Raising money is one major hurdle. Federal Election Commission records<\/a> show that Garcia\u2019s campaign has just over $4,000 cash on hand, which he said was \u201cnot where I wanted to be, but it was not unexpected.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI know how hard it is. That\u2019s why I gotta work harder,\u201d Garcia said.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n 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.\n<\/p>\n Though he\u2019s working strategically to become more familiar with the Queens side of NY-14, his heart and mind always stay with the Bronx. \u201cIt\u2019s the most beautiful place in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Reach Emily Swanson at\u00a0eswanson@schnepsmedia.com<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0(646) 717-0015<\/a>. For more coverage, subscribe to our\u00a0newsletter<\/a>\u00a0and follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1000172544.jpg\")
Garcia is running for the Congressional district that is split between parts of the Bronx and Queens. Photo courtesy Felipe Garcia<\/p>\n