Letitia James Holds Rally to Attract Female Voters

NEW YORK—With Christine Quinn out of the race for mayor, Letitia James is the only female candidate in the race for one the city’s top positions.
Letitia James Holds Rally to Attract Female Voters
Letitia James (C) speaks at a rally on the steps of City Hall, New York City, Sept 19, 2013. (Christian Watjen/Epoch Times)
Kristen Meriwether
9/19/2013
Updated:
7/18/2015

NEW YORK—With Christine Quinn out of the race for mayor, Letitia James is the only female candidate in the race for one the city’s top positions.

James held a rally on Sept. 19 to urge female voters to head back to the polls on October 1 for the runoff between her and Daniel Squadron in the race for the public advocate post.

“When women vote, women win,” James said from the steps of City Hall.

Former rival Reshma Saujani joined James, saying that although she was exhausted from her own campaign, she would push to see a woman elected.

“I believe it is time,” Saujani said.

She added that many of the voters in the runoff would be women.

“We can’t keep complaining about the glass ceiling when we are the ones keeping it intact,” Saujani said.

The National Organization for Women and Emily’s List endorsed James’ campaign.

The public advocate’s race will be the only runoff, costing taxpayers $20 million. The annual budget for the public advocate’s office is $2 million.

Democratic mayoral hopeful Bill de Blasio is currently holding at 40.88 percent, just above the threshold to avoid a runoff in the mayoral election.

James said though she supports legislation that would allow for an automatic runoff, she has to follow the current process.

Voter turnout is expected to be low. James said she has supporters in all five boroughs who will help push the vote.