Israel Ortega Cruz

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Israel Ortega Cruz

Republican Party

Personal

Religion

Christian

Profession

Housing Specialist

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign YouTube

Personal Facebook

Israel Ortega Cruz (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent New York's 14th Congressional District. He did not appear on the ballot for the Republican primary on June 23, 2020.

Cruz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Israel Ortega Cruz has career experience working as a housing specialist.

Elections

2020

See also: New York's 14th Congressional District election, 2020

New York's 14th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 23 Democratic primary)

New York's 14th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 23 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House New York District 14

Incumbent Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeated John Cummings, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, and Antoine Tucker in the general election for U.S. House New York District 14 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D)	71.6	152,661
		John Cummings (R / Conservative Party)	27.4	58,440
		Michelle Caruso-Cabrera (Serve America Movement Party)	0.9	2,000
		Antoine Tucker (R) (Write-in)	0.0	0
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	222

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 213,323
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Miguel Hernandez (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 14

Incumbent Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeated Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, Badrun Khan, and Sam Sloan in the Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 14 on June 23, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez	74.4	46,582
		Michelle Caruso-Cabrera	18.1	11,339
		Badrun Khan	5.0	3,119
		Sam Sloan	2.2	1,406
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	143

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 62,589
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• James Dillon (D)
• Jose Velazquez (D)
• Fernando Cabrera (D)

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. John Cummings advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House New York District 14.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jineea Butler (R)
• Rey Solano (R)
• Israel Ortega Cruz (R)
• Scherie Murray (R)
• Ruth Papazian (R)

Conservative Party primary election

The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. John Cummings advanced from the Conservative Party primary for U.S. House New York District 14.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Michelle Caruso-Cabrera (Independence Party)

Serve America Movement Party primary election

The Serve America Movement Party primary election was canceled. Michelle Caruso-Cabrera advanced from the Serve America Movement Party primary for U.S. House New York District 14.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Working Families Party)

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Israel Ortega Cruz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cruz's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am the American dream...I was born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York; 100% American. I am not rich (when it comes to monetary value), and not poor in the slightest as I have 3 daughters and the greatest wife a man can be blessed with. I know poverty but lived like a king via the love of a mother and stepdad that made dreams possible with their wisdom and faith in God. My brothers and I have felt the sting of prejudice as we are from a black father and light skin mother. We did not fit in with anyone (at first) but with time, patience and love, we made even the stanches of critics see passed its color and towards content of character. I know loss, my mother that made darkness light up with her smile, a dad that thought me to be a man in the absence of my biological father and a grandfather that was a fighter and did not back down from the larger advisory. I have been homeless, depressed, scared and broke, but I have also leaned that negatives in the right light; created a home, happiness, bravery and riches that money can not buy. I have been a stock boy, an educator, a nanny, and currently a defender to the homeless of New York City. Now I am looking to take all that I am and bring it to my brothers and sisters of the Nation. I am Israel Ortega Cruz and I am running to be your next congressmen. Help me reach the top and I will be there to pull you up with me. God bless you all, our leaders and these United States of America.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• One nation Under God where government ensures rights not gives them.
• America and Americans first does not imply all others last.
• Content of charector not color, creed or indentity polotics etc.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am personally passionate about:

Homelessness since my youth and since I have been homeless.
Job creation as I know what it is like to be jobless in New York.
Education elementary, secondary, and higher education as I am trained and continuing to be trained in education.
The elderly since I volunteered and saw and see the value of their wisdom.

Social Welfare such as social security and welfare which both had a say in my up bringing

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

The greatest president short from Donald J trump in policy but in speech the greatest of all time...Ronald Reagan he was a man that knew how to sling a joke with all parties wanting to hear more. But in my life, I look up to the one he looked up to...Jesus Christ who knew to have it all and give it up to represent His father and serve His fellow man even till His death.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Bible. In this book you will find Real Good and evil so that we may stop treating each other as if we were evil and know that one is truly good, but God. You will also find respect for parents and family and to love the stranger in our mist and never mistreat anyone as we are all equal in God's eyes no one greater or lesser than the next. That the government that you live under should be respected and its laws but that you have the right to demand changes if they do not align with the rights given by God and only watched over by Government. It shows to render unto the leaders their share but to always do so with a heart that is not greedy, hateful and lacking will. It shows to care for enemies but when they continue to attack you that smiting them is allowed as well so long as it is the last resort or to prevent a greater damage to the nation. It shows mores but I don't want to ruin it for you...Go read it yourself.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Their word...My stepdad told me once that he had nothing but that he had it all. I did not understand this, so he explained. he started by saying we are poor we don't have much when it comes to earthily things, but we have God and as humans we have something, he gave us that we can leave the earth with, and that is our word. we will be remembered by it and judged the same. Thus, anyone let alone an elected official should hold true to it. hold true, that their word be the greatest thing that they have. As everyone may hate you for your views but everyone, even your enemies will respect you if you know how to keep it. You doing so when alive, may not change the world however, it may light the fire in that one person who will maybe after your gone... much like Jesus did for us.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Since a young age I have had the what (at first, I thought was a discomfort but now I know as a) privilege of always having to hear people's problems. I thought it was a curse for strangers to come up to me and tell me their lives even family and friends but now I understand that God was training me to be receptive to those around me. to have a heart via firsthand knowledge as well as anecdotal. I was being groomed to represent those whom the party that said cared for us left behind. So, I walked away to learn to care and as well as do. To say what was wrong and not sit on my hands waiting for another to do it. Thus, what makes a successful office holder is someone who doe sit because it is inherent and never for money. (Don't get me wrong becoming rich is allowed so long as it is never at the expense of another. Then and only then are you a true success.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To follow the oath to the letter of the law, to try every day to surpass the limits of their jobs (when it comes to what good they can do). to love everyone as if they were the lost family member you could not live without. if all those elected thought this way, we would have a better world.

What legacy would you like to leave?

The legacy that I served much like our fallen soldiers did for glory but not for self, people, family or country but of God. That everything I do is to raise my heavenly father and my fellow mankind up to a higher stand than they would have been had I not served. that when I leave this earth that all member of every party says there was a man that had principles and lived them with no exception. that is the legacy I want that and that I leave a family that is above reproach not for my sake but on their own merits.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The very first historical even I remember watching is President Ronald Reagan being sworn in. I had no idea what I was watching but I felt happy watching it. I have been attracted to politics since I was that age.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

If it is at home, it would be serving and cleaning up after my brothers. I did that till I was 14 where I got a job for pay at the summer youth program. I may say that was both hard and fun. I made friends that I still have till today.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Other than the Bible, Sun Zu the art of war! This from a person who loves peace...though I have been in many a fight in my youth (for self-defense purposes)

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Batman as he likes to help and clean up the streets all with out anyone knowing who he is and why he does it. draw back is he is lonely and I have my riches in the form of a core family that loves me and I them.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Matthew West "do something"

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

To forget the great losses, I have had which make me stronger in passing through them but week in drive at times.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Other than having the power of the purse, the house is the only body that sheds member and gains them fast as well as having the honor of people the closes to the population of the people. their main goal is to understand the Needs of their constituents and lead them by experience learn often outside politics.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not necessarily but it is useful for them to have a grasp of both the inner working of their job and that of the community they serve which can be achieved by learning and living experiences. I personally understand the plight of teachers as I have been one, homeless as I have been there, the elderly as I have been around them to learn, and economic in a macro level as I have attempted a business or two and many lines of work with their educations needed to maintain them. One can learn on the job but also if one listened well to others who have been there.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

The greatest challenge to any nation, let alone the USA is its ability to be cohesive, and assimilate all parties in to one nation. We may be a nation of many but as the founding fathers envisioned (E plurbus unim) out of many one. What many do not understand is that that fact, that job and honor belongs to the children of the of previous generation. They are the ones whom grow together and blur the lines of color, creed, religion etc. the unity is made by them and destroyed by the older generation if left to their own devices. This is our greatest challenge letting youth do their jobs.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies
Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions
Housing, Community Development and Insurance
Oversight and Investigations
Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery
Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Innovation and Workforce Development

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes!... as the will of the people changes fast and the House must be able to keep up with it as it goes up and down, in and out, stays still and moves in intervals.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I believe that term limits keeps the house fresh and keeps lazy good for nothing people away. I will be my own judge and say that I think 12 years in office should be the limit as to many people use the office as a cash cow and become corrupt. therefore, term limits will hinder how much these wannabe heroes (which are really wolves in sheep's clothing). Thus, I want term limits...one can always run for different jobs like senators and then president and then after you very old a mayor of a little town till you die or like jimmy carter and do good with the name you made for yourself.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

Speaker of the House! or the majority leader. but anything that serves the people is good enough for me.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Trey Gowdy and Devin Nunes

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Ballotpedia biographical submission form

The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:

“	What is your political philosophy? The Need! One day while watching a YouTube commercial (of all the places one can find inspiration), I had what is known as an Epiphany. But let me go back before I go forward, as context is king. I have always tried to find my calling in life, as I knew that knowledge of ones calling leads to finding ones meaning and purpose. I tried a little of everything, from automotive to nanny, stock boy to cooking, business to teaching, sheltering the homeless...even attempted writing books, all to see what I was meant to do in life but they all lacked a greater calling. Yet, on a dark night alone listening to a gentlemen talk about why most people don’t write, he said something wise, wise enough to blow the tiredness of the day away... He said, ""a book needs life experiences to write, and to have these experiences, one must live life and to live life one needs time."" (Unknown Paraphrased) I was still very young and I wanted to know my purpose, but I had not lived long enough to have the capacity to understand it yet. Fast forward to 2018 I now had the patience to wait: for employment, for friends, for items, but above all, love and purpose. (Here comes the part of the Youtube video) While watching that video on finances and business, the guy said something that again I found wise... He said, ""find the need and you will find the way to make (money),"" I heard ""find the need and you will find the way to have purpose."" So I learned that age and patience gives one the ability to find purpose, but it also opened the door to a bigger question! Where is the need? how can it be filled, and am I the one to do it? When Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (A.O.C) ran for office, I had dreamed of running for President longer than she had lived. But God had a purpose for President Trump to hold that position, and a hard position it is. I understand my purpose now is to fight in the front lines to drain the swamp in the 14th district. America first and we start in our own backyard taking care of our own. But I ask, what can I do now? Where is the need and will I serve my purpose? I knew that when she (A.O.C) ran I had found my purpose. I had been reluctant to try to run and be the effective leader/servant to those around me. However, her radical SOCIALIST outlook and disdain for the very people she is supposed to serve, has ignited a passion within me to effect change in our beloved district. I have the drive and the motivation to learn even more, to care for my body, and family more as I feel connected to life. I have arrived at the point of no return and my family was with me. My family, friends and coworkers saw and see this in my eyes as I spoke throughout my life. I am not running for fame or money. I run for purpose and love for my hurting nation. I found purpose in life, first through Jesus Christ and then finding the need of my people (our great American nation). Help me fulfill my purpose to its limits of bringing the 14th District to it highest potential. God Bless America, Israel Ortega Cruz Is there anything you would like to add? Please help I.O.C put Common Sense back into Politics! Visit my website, check out my views and please donate. Thank you! God bless you and God bless America!	”
—Israel Ortega Cruz

See also

2020 Elections

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External links

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Footnotes

[show]

New York's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Kirsten Gillibrand (D)

Chuck Schumer (D)

Representatives

District 1

Nicholas LaLota (R)

District 2

Andrew Garbarino (R)

District 3

Tom Suozzi (D)

District 4

Laura Gillen (D)

District 5

Gregory Meeks (D)

District 6

Grace Meng (D)

District 7

Nydia Velazquez (D)

District 8

Hakeem Jeffries (D)

District 9

Yvette Clarke (D)

District 10

Daniel Goldman (D)

District 11

Nicole Malliotakis (R)

District 12

Jerrold Nadler (D)

District 13

Adriano Espaillat (D)

District 14

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D)

District 15

Ritchie Torres (D)

District 16

George Latimer (D)

District 17

Michael Lawler (R)

District 18

Pat Ryan (D)

District 19

Josh Riley (D)

District 20

Paul Tonko (D)

District 21

Elise Stefanik (R)

District 22

John Mannion (D)

District 23

Nick Langworthy (R)

District 24

Claudia Tenney (R)

District 25

Joseph Morelle (D)

District 26

Tim Kennedy (D)

Democratic Party (21)

Republican Party (7)