Community Leaders Join Steven Raga for Early Voting March

QUEENS, N.Y. - Community advocates, labor leaders, and elected officials joined Assemblymember Steven Raga at Little Manila's Woodside Memorial Park before marching with him to St. Sebastian Church, where he cast a ballot for himself in his historic bid to become the next New York State Senator representing Western Queens.

The Election Day event underscores what supporters describe as a grassroots campaign built on decades of community organizing, neighborhood advocacy, and a commitment to working families.

Raga made history in 2022 as the first Filipino American elected to the New York State Legislature. Born in Queens to immigrant parents and raised in the district he now represents, he has spent years organizing alongside residents, tenants, workers, and immigrant communities before winning a seat in the Assembly.

At a series of Senate District 12 candidate forums held on June 6, June 8, and June 12, Raga emphasized his longstanding roots in Western Queens as a resident, community advocate, and legislator. He argued that meaningful political change must be built from the ground up rather than directed by political organizations from above.

"The future of Western Queens must be shaped by the people, by the coalition builders of Western Queens," Raga said. "This race must be about principles, not personalities."

As a longtime organizer, Raga said trust is earned through years of service and community engagement.

"Relationships are cultivated over time. Trust is built over time," he said. "That is not something that can be fabricated overnight."

Raga has highlighted how personal experiences shaped his views on healthcare, housing, labor rights, and immigrant justice.

When he was seven years old, his father, who suffered from a rare disease, returned to the Philippines because the family could not afford the care he needed in the United States.

Raga has said that experience led him to view healthcare as a human right and inspired his advocacy for expanding healthcare access and supporting the New York Health Act.

He also points to more than $200 million secured for safety-net hospitals and his support for universal childcare initiatives.

Housing insecurity also played a major role in shaping his political outlook.

Raised by a single mother in Queens, Raga said his family experienced multiple evictions while he was growing up. He credits those experiences with motivating his efforts to secure more than $275 million for Mitchell-Lama housing and his continued advocacy for affordable housing programs.

Labor issues have remained central to his campaign. Raga's mother was a Teamster, and he describes himself as a candidate for working-class families. His campaign has received support from more than 20 labor unions, along with immigrant delivery workers and domestic workers. Over the years, he has joined workers on picket lines and championed labor protections in Albany.

On immigration, Raga says his work has focused on protecting one of New York's most diverse communities. During periods of heightened immigration enforcement activity, his office coordinated with legal service providers, faith leaders, and rapid response networks to support immigrant families.

He has also advocated for legislation aimed at limiting cooperation between New York agencies and federal immigration enforcement.

As the child of immigrants whose own family experienced separation, Raga said immigrant justice remains a personal issue. He has participated in demonstrations supporting immigrant rights, including a protest at 26 Federal Plaza, and has backed measures including the New York for All Act, the Dignity Not Detention Act, and the MELT Act.

Transportation and public safety have also been major campaign priorities. Raga has pledged to continue pushing for improved MTA service, expanded bus priority lanes, and investments in transit infrastructure. He recently joined fellow Queens elected officials in raising concerns with MTA leadership about ongoing service issues affecting borough residents.

He has also called for continued investment in Vision Zero initiatives, safer street designs, improved lighting, and protected crosswalks to reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities.

Addressing the role of endorsements in local elections, Raga said campaigns are ultimately decided by voters and community support.

"This race isn't about one endorsement," he said. "It's about who understands the needs of Western Queens and has the capacity and coalition to deliver. Our campaign is powered by workers, immigrants, tenants, and families fighting for a more affordable future."

Supporters gathering for the Election Day march say Raga's candidacy represents a milestone for Filipino Americans and the diverse communities that make up Western Queens. If elected, he would become the first Filipino American to represent the district in the New York State Senate.