Influential immigrants’ rights group backs challenger in Assembly District 34

Photo courtesy of Jessica González-Rojas

By David Brand

Queens-based immigrants’ rights organization Make the Road Action has endorsed a challenger to six-term incumbent Michael DenDekker in the race for Assembly District 34.

The influential organization announced Tuesday that it will back Jessica González-Rojas, a health care reform expert and former executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, in the June 2020 Democratic primary. District 34 includes Corona, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Woodside.

Make the Road Action has championed various progressives causes and candidates in recent years, and González-Rojas said she was “humbled and excited” to receive the endorsement. 

“As an advocate and a daughter of an immigrant, I have been fortunate enough to work alongside Make the Road Action to move important policy forward,” she said. “I proudly stood shoulder-to-shoulder with their members during key moments in the struggle to build power for all working people.”

DenDekker has not adequately advocated for the rights of immigrants, who make up a significant proportion of the district, González-Rojas told the Eagle in September.

“We have a huge immigrant population and we need a champion who understands the issues of immigrants, and he hasn’t been that,” she said.

DenDekker told the Eagle that he has a long track record of advocating for immigrants in the district, however. He pointed to his support for the Green Light Law, which allow undocumented immigrants to access drivers licenses, and the state DREAM Act, which enables noncitizens to access state college scholarships and tuition assistance, as examples of his commitment. 

“I acknowledge Make the Road Action’s advocacy efforts and their work to help immigrant communities and people of color, but I am proud of my record of standing up for immigrants and fighting for their rights,” he said. “I know we still have a lot of work to do, and I will continue to work hard to protect the rights of my neighbors.”

In September, DenDekker said he welcomed the challenges from González-Rojas, as well as local civic leader Nuala O’Doherty Naranjo, a former prosecutor.

 “I think elections are good,” DenDekker said. “I think elections keep an elected official working hard and give the residents a chance to rate their elected officials.”

“This is really a litmus test on your work,” he added. “A review or a rating by your employer.”