Maria Quiñones Sánchez

English - Español - 简体中文 - العربية
English - Español - 简体中文 - العربية

There's nothing wrong with Philly that we can't fix together.

I'm running to be your Accountability Mayor and get sh*t done. Sign up to join my campaign.

There’s nothing wrong with Philly that we can’t fix together.

I’m running to be your Accountability Mayor
and get sh*t done.

Sign up to join my campaign.

ANNOUNCEMENT: April 9th, 2023

I want to say how incredibly grateful I am to have garnered your support for my candidacy. The opportunity to run for Mayor was amazing.

I met so many people eager to have strong and competent leadership – leadership that recognizes and values the work that Philadelphians do every day, in every neighborhood.

Unfortunately, the obnoxious money in this race makes it almost impossible to compete. In the past, I’ve co-sponsored legislation for public financing of campaigns to address this problem – without it, only the rich and connected will have an opportunity to run and compete in our elections. That is not democracy. We need to consider public finance again.

Our city is very diverse and the campaign to lead it should include everyone – unfortunately, right now that is not happening. As the Philadelphia Inquirer asked this week: “A quarter of Philadelphians don’t speak English at home. Has the Mayor’s race engaged them?

As a Latina, and part of a proud, young, and growing community that makes up 18% of the city, I am frustrated that such an important constituency is being overlooked by the other candidates in this election. We need leadership that understands the intersectionality of our diversity, and we need leadership that knows how to bring our city together.

I decided to suspend my campaign but I still believe that the Latino community can pick the next mayor.

This will be a close election, and I am calling on all the campaigns to respond to the Agenda Latina. How will you govern and will it really be for all?

Over the next few days I will decide if I’m ready to endorse someone in this race, but I haven’t seen anything that makes me feel we are being included.

On Monday night, Esperanza will host the Filadelfia Decide candidate forum focused on Latino issues. I encourage everyone to tune in and see how the candidates respond when asked directly how, as mayor, they will address the needs, neighborhoods, and priorities of Philadelphia’s Latino community.

Thank you for your work and support of our historic campaign.

In service, 

Maria

MARIA'S PLANS & POLICIES FOR PHILADELPHIA

Public Safety

My comprehensive public safety strategy reimagines the role of all government departments, while transforming the police and criminal legal system.

Education

Schools are the hearts of their communities. We must invest in our students, removing the barriers that make it harder for them to learn.

Affordable & Equitable Philadelphia

Every city department will have an anti-poverty plan. We will use every tool in the toolbox to create diverse, mixed-income neighborhoods.

Economic Opportunity & Inclusion

 

Over the next ten years, we can grow our population to two million and ensure equity every step of the way.

WORD ON THE STREET

No one has been more of a pragmatic progressive since her election to Council in 2007 than Quiñones Sánchez, and she’s done it in a particularly badass way, by leaning in to hard calls, by flying in the face of orthodoxy when need be, and by time and again standing up to, and staring down, the entrenched political machine. The Philadelphia Citizen

If there is anyone among the current group of people either running for mayor of Philadelphia or considering the job that can speak to all or most of the city’s issues, it’s Maria Quinones Sanchez. 
– The Philadelphia Sun

Philadelphians love an underdog, and no one fits that bill better than Quiñones Sánchez. She’s the rare pragmatic pugilist – someone with deeply-held beliefs about policy, but willing to compromise to get things done for her constituents. Philly 3.0

Between her progressive bona fides, her laser focus on business tax reform, and the fact that without party backing, she’s fought for every win, she’ll be battle-tested and formidable… Philadelphia Magazine

DONATE NOW

My campaign depends on your generous donation to bring together the people, plans, and policies that will make Philadelphia safe and strong again.  

If you’ve saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately. 

TRACK RECORD

Maria is widely regarded as Philadelphia’s most effective leader and legislator.

14

years in City Council

431

bills sponsored 

73,000

small neighborhood businesses no longer pay the BIRT Tax

RECENT NEWS

Watch Public Safety Plan coverage on NBC10

In a new public safety plan, Philadelphia mayoral candidate Maria Quiñones Sanchez proposes a conversation to “reimagine” the Philadelphia Police Department and suggests establishing a public safety dashboard and investing in a system of cameras in the city. But not included in the plan – shared first with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk – is any reference to guns, as Philadelphia struggles to contain daily gun violence. Watch it now »

‘Is she viable?’ Mayoral candidate María Quiñones Sánchez says her campaign has a bite.
AL DÍA News

“Quiñones Sánchez raised a total of $548,000 in 2022, according to a campaign spokesperson, and starts the new year with a sizable portion of that amount to kick off a crowded mayoral race…” Read More »

In Philadelphia, Gun Violence Supercharges an Unprecedented Mayoral Race
The Trace

“People talk about it from the data perspective and from the abstract. But this is what I live every single day,” she said. “I’ve done all that I can as a City Council member. Ultimately, policy and enforcement is decided by the mayor, and in this particular case, we have disagreed with their strategy, and I join with the residents of Kensington in saying, ‘We can’t keep doing this. It is unfair, it’s discriminatory.’” Read More »

WHO IS MARIA QUIÑONES-SÁNCHEZ?
The Philadelphia Citizen

SHE’S A MAVERICK, who has won four City Council races in her district — all without the support of the city’s Democratic machine. Read More »

Maria Quiñones Sanchez, Derek Green join race for Philadelphia mayor
PhillyVoice

Quiñones-Sanchez, who chaired the education and appropriations committees, acknowledged that the city has invested in secondary programs designed to help the most hard-hit communities, but she said greater leadership is necessary. Read More »

The Race Begins …
The Philadelphia Sun

If there is anyone among the current group of people either running for mayor of Philadelphia or considering the job that can speak to all or most of the city’s issues, it’s Maria Quinones-Sanchez. Read More »

Gun violence will be a top issue for Philly’s next mayor. Where do the announced candidates stand? 

“We should not be saying the D.A. and the police commissioner are not on the same page,” she said. “That is the executive’s role to say ‘we are going to have one common vision’… that is what’s missing, and that kind of leadership only the mayor can provide, to assure people that all of those components are working together.” Read more  »

The race begins: Philly Council members Maria Quiñones-Sánchez and Derek Green are running for mayor
The Philadelphia Inquirer

She is “unapologetic” about her belief that the next mayor should be a woman. Read More »

Maria Quiñones Sánchez resigns from Philly council, launches bid for mayor
The Philadelphia Tribune

“I am a candidate for mayor, the first official candidate in the historic election.” She said that she wants to fix what she believes is a “broken city.” Read More »

MARIA’S STORY

Maria Quiñones Sánchez is a veteran activist with over 30 years of service to the City of Philadelphia. Most recently, she represented North Philadelphia’s 7th Council District for the last 14 years, where she is widely regarded as Philadelphia’s most effective leader and legislator.

Maria is a pragmatic progressive – driven by her unwavering passion for helping vulnerable people in need. She has unmatched expertise and wisdom from decades in the trenches of Philadelphia government. She’s known for tackling impossibly complex problems, uniting leaders with opposing views, and getting things done.

Maria moved to Philadelphia from Puerto Rico as a baby. Her mother was a factory worker and her father, a farmworker. She was raised in public housing before moving to Hunting Park.