Lily Benavides

Lily Benavides (Green Party) ran for election for Governor of New Jersey. She will not appear on the ballot for the general election on November 4, 2025.

Biography

Lily Benavides earned a high school diploma from the Colegio de Bachillerato Nuestra Señora del Rosario. She attended Union County College. Her career experience includes working as a activist.^[1]

Elections

2025

General election

General election for Governor of New Jersey

Mikie Sherrill, Jack Ciattarelli, Vic Kaplan, and Joanne Kuniansky are running in the general election for Governor of New Jersey on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		Mikie Sherrill (D)
		Jack Ciattarelli (R)
		Vic Kaplan (L)
	Submit photo	Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party)

	There are no incumbents in this race.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of New Jersey

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of New Jersey on June 10, 2025.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Mikie Sherrill	34.0	286,244
	Ras Baraka	20.7	173,951
	Steve Fulop	16.0	134,573
	Josh Gottheimer	11.6	97,384
	Sean Spiller	10.6	89,472
	Stephen Sweeney	7.1	59,811

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 841,435
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of New Jersey

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of New Jersey on June 10, 2025.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Jack Ciattarelli	67.8	316,283
	Bill Spadea	21.7	101,408
	Jon Bramnick	6.2	29,130
	Mario Kranjac	2.7	12,782
	Justin Barbera	1.4	6,743
	Hans Herberg (Write-in)	0.0	0

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 466,346
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

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2024

New Jersey's 11th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 4 Democratic primary)

New Jersey's 11th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 4 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House New Jersey District 11

Incumbent Mikie Sherrill defeated Joseph Belnome, Lily Benavides, and Joshua Lanzara in the general election for U.S. House New Jersey District 11 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mikie Sherrill (D)	56.5	222,583
		Joseph Belnome (R)	41.8	164,556
		Lily Benavides (G)	1.2	4,780
	Submit photo	Joshua Lanzara (Truth Freedom Prosperity Party)	0.5	1,832

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 393,751
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 11

Incumbent Mikie Sherrill defeated Mark DeLotto in the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 11 on June 4, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Mikie Sherrill	93.6	48,539
	Mark DeLotto	6.4	3,309

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 51,848
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 11

Joseph Belnome defeated John Sauers and Raafat Barsoom in the Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 11 on June 4, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Joseph Belnome	86.8	25,608
	John Sauers	8.2	2,425
	Raafat Barsoom	5.0	1,464

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 29,497
= 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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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Benavides in this election.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

Lily Benavides did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.

2024

Lily Benavides completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Benavides' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Lily Benavides and I am the Green Party candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District. I am a mother of four children, eight grandchildren and a wife. We also have a dog, three cats and a gecko. My family is the priority number one for me and for whom I do everything I do. I was born and raised in Cartago, Colombia. I came to US 35 years ago. I graduated from high school in Colombia. I didn't graduated from college. I have held various jobs, the last one being as a school bus driver. I come from a big family where my grandparents were the center of everything. They owned coffee plantations and we used to spend time off and vacations at the farms, My grandparents house was one of open doors and welcoming to everyone especially those in need. That's from where I learned the importance of serving others. I have volunteered for many years with immigrant and human rights organizations, As a low income woman of color I know the struggles of our communities and I am committed to help create a better future for our new generations.

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?

I would like to remedy the current housing crisis and provide more affordable housing for low income families, for veterans, for people with disabilities and for homeless. We all have the right to live in a safe and adequate place where we are protected from the elements of the environment and that provides basic needs while respecting our dignity.
Our country has a strong economy and is able to provide free Education from daycare to college. We must invest in our new generations by providing the best education for them. We can accomplish that by making productive changes that will improve education for years, and ensure our country's future success.
We have a right to live in peace and the obligation to create a better future for our upcoming generations. That is why we must cut the military spending as much as possible. With all the money spent on military equipment and wars we can help alleviate all the problems we currently have such as housing, healthcare, education, food insecurity, etc. Besides, the US military is one of the largest climate polluters in the world. We really need to start taking care of our environment to diminish the effects of the climate change.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I could name only one issue that I am passionate about but all the issues are interconnected and we cannot work on one without doing the same with the other. We need to create public policy that give us a solution for the housing crisis like federal rent control and assistance for those who need it most, We need public policy for free education from daycare all the way to college. We need public policy for a healthcare system that benefits us all and not one that leave us in bankruptcy. We need public policy for women's rights, for immigration, for gun control and basically for everything else.

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

Nowadays I believe there are no leaders. I would like to follow the steps of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr, Harry Tubman, Frederick Douglas, and Nelson Mandela. I admire some friends that are grassroots activists and are working for the people and not for their own interest.

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

Books: Autobiography of La Causa by Cesar Chavez and The Giver by Lois Lowry

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

The most important principles for an elected official from my point of view are integrity, communication with the constituency and commitment to do the work.

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

I believe that people running to get elected for office should be from the common neighborhood and not from high-end parts of the cities. I am a regular person who hardly lives paycheck to paycheck to pay rent and expenses. That makes people identify themselves with me more, and the fact that I have been an activist for many years. I am a woman of color and many feel represented by me. I pledge to not take money from corporations or Super PACS now or in a future. I consider myself an honest person and with integrity.

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

An elected official creates and support proposals, offer amendments and serve on committees at the same time that defends The Constitution.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to be remembered as a person who fought for peace and justice until the last minute of her life (hopefully) to live a better world for our children.

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

My first historical event occurred when I was five years old. The new elected president of Colombia, Misael Pastrana came to town and he was on a parade by the main street. We went to my uncle's house to watch him pass by from the window.

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

My very first job when I came to this country was in a shoe store in Queens, NY and it lasted for two months because then I moved to New Jersey.

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

I would like to be Arwen from The Lord of The Rings because she is a very strong woman who does not fear anything.

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

The US House of Representatives holds the power to impeach a president, to start or finish a war and basically everything needs to be approved by the Congress first. Decisions taken in Congress are more important than an executive order in many cases because they can become a Federal Law that cannot be modified.

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

It could be beneficial to have representatives with previous experiences but at the same time it is good to bring in new people with new and innovative ideas and that can also represent our diverse population. The problem with representatives that have been in service too long is that they are less receptive to new people and might want to perpetuate their seat.

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

The increase on the gap between low income and high income population, the lack of an affordable healthcare system, the failed immigration system, the housing crisis and the climate crisis are all big challenges at this moment and if we don't find a solution soon I can't imagine how it would be in 10 years.

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

I believe that four years would be the right amount of time to be able to finish projects if we take into account that to run again candidates need to dedicate almost a year to campaign.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Any public servant should not serve more than four years straight

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

I admire John Lewis and his tenacity on his fight for social justice which made him one of the most respected members of Congress. Those are big shoes to wear and I don't know if I would ever be able to wear them.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

During COVID I was a member of a Mutual Aid group and I was taking calls all day from people in need of food and basic stuff. It touched me so much and I identified with them most of the times as a low income immigrant who had to struggle a lot.

Tell us your favorite joke.

I'm not good with jokes, I will leave that to my older sister, She can tell jokes for hours.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes I believe that compromise is necessary when it's for the benefit of the public and not for the pocket of elected officials.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

One of the priorities on my list is to reduce military spending to the maximum and use those funds for free healthcare, to pay the student debt, and for affordable housing amongst other important needs.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

The US House should use its investigative powers to find the corruption inside all branches of government and not to spy on people

What committees interest you?

Foreign Affairs, Education and Workforce, Small Business and Natural Resources.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Financial transparency and accountability are the basic principles in which a government should be based on to be trusted. Government and elected officials should be open to the public and give access to their voting records, their donor's lists, and all their activities related to their position.

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.

Campaign website

Benavides' campaign website stated the following:

“

Reducing Military Spending and Building Peace

We have a right to live in peace and the obligation to create a better future for our upcoming generations.

Here are some of the ways we can achieve peace not just in our country but around the world:

We must cut the military spending as much as possible. There is no need to spend trillions of dollars on more arms and equipment that ultimately will be used for more wars. By cutting the military spending we are also protecting the environment. The US military is one of the largest climate polluters in the world. Most importantly, a trillion dollars can be wisely used in poor communities to provide for their families' needs. No more wars. Take care of the environment and help our own people. These are things that we can achieve only by cutting the military spending.

STOP all aid to Israel
Allow the International Criminal Court to proceed with the arrest warrants for Israel leaders and all those who have enabled the genocide of Palestinians to happen
Work on a one-state solution for Palestine
Prohibit the intervention of foreign entities in the US government, e.g. AIPAC
Get rid of any rule or regulation that stands in the way of freedom of speech
Change the current foreign policies in favor of policies that respect other countries' cultures and governments
Provide humanitarian support to countries in conflict according to their needs
Abolish NATO which has become an outdated militarist institution unable to create peace but instead contributes to more wars and more military spending, while pushing the whole world closer to a nuclear war
End the "War on Drugs" which has proven once and again that is ineffective and that it creates bigger problems (like displacement of and migration of people), and contributed to the massive incarceration of people of color, mostly from the black community
End the sanctions and embargo on countries that want to keep their autonomy and live under their own rules.
Stop the interventionism in the name of the so-called "freedom"
Prohibit the use of military personnel and equipment to protect foreign companies that extract natural resources from other countries
Close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp
Fully support military personnel and veterans in all their daily life needs

Education

Free Education From Daycare to College

We must invest in our new generations by providing the best education for them. We can accomplish that by making productive changes that will improve education for years, and ensure our country's future success. These are the actions I would support for that purpose:

Fund totally free education from daycare to college
Eliminate the debt of every student in the country from the last 10 years, or even longer if possible
Building more schools to provide a higher-quality learning environment
Repair the infrastructure of schools as needed for students to have a healthy, comfortable, and pleasant learning experience
Diversify schools to fairly represent the communities by hiring more people of color and of different backgrounds
Make the schools completely accessible for students with any type of disability
Provide free food for all students in every school in the country
Provide free transportation for any student that needs it
Provide free technology equipment for students all over the country
Increase funds for arts and sports
Create mental health programs in every school so that free mental healthcare is provided to any student who needs it
Provide school staff who are specialized in adolescent behavior to better supports their development
Implement the same curriculum all over the country, one that respects diversity
Eliminate the partisanship on boards of education and include members who truly represent their communities
Increase the salary and benefits for teachers and school personnel as well as provide free continuing education
Create and encourage multilingual education based on community demographics
Prohibit involvement of religion or politics in school
Stop funding charter schools

Immigration

Proposals for restructuring immigration:

Give permanet status to TPS and DACA holders
Support DAPA
Allow asylum seekers to enter and apply once in the country
Provide shelter for asylum seekers and refugees when entering the country for at least a year
Freeze the prices of all immigration processes
Prohibit the detention of asylum seekers and separation of families
Abolish ICE and BP
Make DHS hire more immigration agents to accelerate and shorten the processes
Close the detention centers for immigrants and stop deportations
Prohibit police to aid immigration officers
Provide funds for community programs to help newcomers
Give a permanent status to all undocumented living and working in US
Change the foreign policies and trade agreements that have caused massive migration
Tighten labor laws so that undocumented workers have the same rights
Prohibit any type of discrimination against immigrants in any governmental agency, school or health center regardless of their immigration status
Demilitarize the borders
Provide funds and resources to border towns to help newcomers
Make it mandatory to provide translators and notices in as many languages as possible in schools, hospitals, and governmental agencies for foreign-speaking immigrants
Reenact the 245( i) Adjustment for undocumented who entered without a visa
Punish any Border Patrol or Immigration officer that commits any human rights violations
Create a program for seasonal workers, making sure they are paid under the law and that they have good living conditions
Lift all U.S. sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela. End U.S. imperialism in the Americas, which is one of the leading causes of economic instability and migration

Affordable Housing

We all have the right to live in a safe and adequate place where we are protected from the elements of the environment and that provides basic needs while respecting our dignity.

To provide affordable housing we would have to follow some or all of the following steps:

Support a Universal Tenants Bill of rights
Create regulations to control rent prices, ones that are fair for the tenant and for the landlord
Provide funds and/or shelter for people evicted who are not able to pay rent and allow them to take hold of their belongings
Create more programs that allow low-income, unemployed, seniors, and the disabled to have permanent housing
Use empty buildings to create livable places for the homeless
No longer allow corporations or investors to build expensive condominiums/apartments that can subsequently cause gentrification
No longer allow municipalities to use PILOT programs (Payment in lieu of taxes)
Increase the mandatory rate of affordable housing availability on big housing constructions
Prohibit cutting down trees and destroying forests to build^[2]

”

—Lily Benavides' campaign website (2024)^[3]

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Lily Benavides campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House New Jersey District 11	Lost general	$0	N/A**
Grand total			$0	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

External links

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Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 8, 2024
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ Lily Benavides' campaign website, “Issues,” accessed October 24, 2024

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 8, 2024

[quotedisclaimer-2] Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[3] Lily Benavides' campaign website, “Issues,” accessed October 24, 2024

[1]

[2]

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Lily Benavides

Biography

Elections

2025

General election

General election for Governor of New Jersey

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of New Jersey

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of New Jersey

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

2024

General election

General election for U.S. House New Jersey District 11

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 11

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 11

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

2024

Campaign website

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

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