As of noon, more than 26,000 people had voted in South Carolina’s Democratic primary during the early voting period. Mayra Rivera-Vázquez, former second vice chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, joined voters as she cast her ballot alongside her husband, Ricardo Colon, this morning.
Rivera-Vázquez, who lives in Bluffton, is running for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, saying she wants to represent working families who feel overlooked by those in power.
For three weeks, the South Carolina Legislature debated redistricting, though the effort failed in the state Senate today.
“People are tired of Nancy Mace and Donald Trump’s chaos and division,” Rivera-Vázquez said. “We need leadership that is willing to call for bold changes for South Carolinians, such as universal pre-K and child care, Medicare for All, and immigration reform that includes holding ICE accountable for violating human rights. This is my idea of a new American Dream — one that works for all Americans. As I cast my ballot for myself today, I held back tears knowing that I am standing on the shoulders of those who came before me during the Civil Rights Movement. I thought about the many Black Americans who marched, fought and even died for a Latina like me to run. We must honor their sacrifices by continuing to keep our foot on the gas and vote in record numbers throughout early voting to ensure that the state Legislature is unable to bounce back from our organizing win.”
Rivera-Vázquez said the power of the people is why the state Senate caved to the pressure, allowing the redistricting bill to fail.
“We won today, as a group. I believe we can keep winning,” she said. “We can flip this seat as long as Democratic voters do not get complacent. Encourage your friends and family to make a plan to go out and vote. Together, we can build that new American Dream.”
Rivera-Vázquez encouraged voters to check their polling locations, sample ballots and other election information at SCVotes.gov, and reminded voters to ask for a Democratic ballot. She also urged voters to support her campaign for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, citing affordability, opportunity, health care, education and stronger representation for Lowcountry families as key priorities.
For more information, visit the campaign website or email info@mayra4congress.com.