Julia Salazar: Campaigns and Elections
Julia Salazar has run for and won election to the New York State Senate four times, in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, representing the 18th Senate District. Her initial 2018 campaign was a competitive insurgent primary challenge that attracted national attention, while subsequent races have been uncontested or minimally contested.
Salazar announced her candidacy for the 18th Senate District in April 2018, challenging incumbent Senator Martin Malave Dilan, who had held the seat since 2002 . She ran as a democratic socialist on a platform focused on tenant protections, criminal justice reform, sex workers' rights, and opposition to corporate influence in politics 2. Her campaign was organized through a grassroots model heavily reliant on DSA volunteer canvassers, with an estimated 800 DSA members living in or near the district contributing to door-knocking and voter outreach efforts .
The campaign gained significant momentum after the June 2018 primary victory of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over incumbent Joe Crowley in New York's 14th congressional district. The Ocasio-Cortez upset energized progressive and socialist candidates across New York, and Salazar's campaign received heightened media coverage as part of this broader movement 2. She secured endorsements from the Democratic Socialists of America, Our Revolution, Cynthia Nixon (who was running for governor that year), and Ocasio-Cortez herself 2.
In August 2018, the campaign faced turbulence when Tablet Magazine published an investigation questioning elements of Salazar's biography, including her claims to immigrant and Jewish identity . Citizens Union revoked its endorsement, citing inaccurate information about her academic credentials . Despite the controversy, the DSA and Ocasio-Cortez maintained their support, and Salazar continued to campaign on her policy platform .
On September 13, 2018, Salazar defeated Dilan in the Democratic primary by a margin of approximately 59 to 41 percent . The victory was considered a significant upset against a veteran incumbent in a heavily Democratic district. In the November 6, 2018 general election, Salazar ran unopposed and was elected to the State Senate, becoming the youngest woman in the chamber's history at the time 8. Her win was part of a broader Democratic wave in New York that year, with the party capturing a majority in the State Senate for the first time in a decade 2.
In the 2020 election cycle, Salazar ran for reelection and won the Democratic primary on June 23, 2020, with 86.7 percent of the vote 2. She won the November 3, 2020 general election with 97.5 percent of the vote 2. During the 2020 campaign period, it was announced on July 2, 2020 that Salazar had tested positive for COVID-19 9.
In 2022, Salazar faced no challenger in either the Democratic primary or the general election. Both the Democratic and Working Families Party primaries were canceled, and she advanced automatically to the general election, which she won 9.
In 2024, Salazar again ran without opposition. The Democratic primary was canceled, and she won the general election on November 5, 2024 9. She ran on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines.
Salazar's campaign financing has followed the pattern established by DSA-backed candidates of refusing contributions from the real estate industry and corporate political action committees 10. Her campaigns have relied primarily on small-dollar individual donations and grassroots fundraising.
The 18th Senate District, which Salazar represents, has undergone redistricting adjustments but continues to center on Bushwick and Cypress Hills in Brooklyn, with portions of Williamsburg, East New York, and Ridgewood in Queens 8. The district is heavily Democratic, with a diverse population that includes significant Latino, immigrant, and working-class communities. Salazar's repeated uncontested elections suggest a consolidation of her support within the district since her initial 2018 upset.
Salazar has been active in supporting other DSA-endorsed candidates. She campaigned for Zohran Mamdani's successful 2025 mayoral bid and has appeared at DSA events promoting the organization's broader electoral strategy in New York 11. Her 2018 victory is frequently cited by DSA organizers and political analysts as a foundational moment in the organization's growth as an electoral force in New York politics .
Overview
Julia Salazar has run for and won election to the New York State Senate four times, in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, representing the 18th Senate District. Her initial 2018 campaign was a competitive insurgent primary challenge that attracted national attention, while subsequent races have been uncontested or minimally contested.
Salazar announced her candidacy for the 18th Senate District in April 2018, challenging incumbent Senator Martin Malave Dilan, who had held the seat since 2002 . She ran as a democratic socialist on a platform focused on tenant protections, criminal justice reform, sex workers' rights, and opposition to corporate influence in politics 2. Her campaign was organized through a grassroots model heavily reliant on DSA volunteer canvassers, with an estimated 800 DSA members living in or near the district contributing to door-knocking and voter outreach efforts .
The campaign gained significant momentum after the June 2018 primary victory of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over incumbent Joe Crowley in New York's 14th congressional district. The Ocasio-Cortez upset energized progressive and socialist candidates across New York, and Salazar's campaign received heightened media coverage as part of this broader movement 2. She secured endorsements from the Democratic Socialists of America, Our Revolution, Cynthia Nixon (who was running for governor that year), and Ocasio-Cortez herself 2.
In August 2018, the campaign faced turbulence when Tablet Magazine published an investigation questioning elements of Salazar's biography, including her claims to immigrant and Jewish identity . Citizens Union revoked its endorsement, citing inaccurate information about her academic credentials . Despite the controversy, the DSA and Ocasio-Cortez maintained their support, and Salazar continued to campaign on her policy platform .
On September 13, 2018, Salazar defeated Dilan in the Democratic primary by a margin of approximately 59 to 41 percent . The victory was considered a significant upset against a veteran incumbent in a heavily Democratic district. In the November 6, 2018 general election, Salazar ran unopposed and was elected to the State Senate, becoming the youngest woman in the chamber's history at the time 8. Her win was part of a broader Democratic wave in New York that year, with the party capturing a majority in the State Senate for the first time in a decade 2.
In the 2020 election cycle, Salazar ran for reelection and won the Democratic primary on June 23, 2020, with 86.7 percent of the vote 2. She won the November 3, 2020 general election with 97.5 percent of the vote 2. During the 2020 campaign period, it was announced on July 2, 2020 that Salazar had tested positive for COVID-19 9.
In 2022, Salazar faced no challenger in either the Democratic primary or the general election. Both the Democratic and Working Families Party primaries were canceled, and she advanced automatically to the general election, which she won 9.
In 2024, Salazar again ran without opposition. The Democratic primary was canceled, and she won the general election on November 5, 2024 9. She ran on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines.
Salazar's campaign financing has followed the pattern established by DSA-backed candidates of refusing contributions from the real estate industry and corporate political action committees 10. Her campaigns have relied primarily on small-dollar individual donations and grassroots fundraising.
The 18th Senate District, which Salazar represents, has undergone redistricting adjustments but continues to center on Bushwick and Cypress Hills in Brooklyn, with portions of Williamsburg, East New York, and Ridgewood in Queens 8. The district is heavily Democratic, with a diverse population that includes significant Latino, immigrant, and working-class communities. Salazar's repeated uncontested elections suggest a consolidation of her support within the district since her initial 2018 upset.
Salazar has been active in supporting other DSA-endorsed candidates. She campaigned for Zohran Mamdani's successful 2025 mayoral bid and has appeared at DSA events promoting the organization's broader electoral strategy in New York 11. Her 2018 victory is frequently cited by DSA organizers and political analysts as a foundational moment in the organization's growth as an electoral force in New York politics .