Olga Méndez was the first Puerto Rican woman elected to a state legislature in the United States mainland. Born in Puerto Rico, she moved to New York as a child and grew up in the Spanish Harlem (East Harlem) section of Manhattan (New York County). A decades long member of the Democratic Party, she switched party affiliation in December 2002 and joined the Republican Party. This move was considered by many as the fatal blow to her long political career, resulting in a loss for re-election in the November 2004 general election. She was defeated by Jose M. Serrano, son of U.S. Congressman Jose Serrano, thus bringing an end to her 26 year run as state senator for her district. She passed away from cancer in her East Harlem home on July 29, 2009. The "Olga Mendez Apartments" complex in the East Harlem section of Manhattan were named in her honor.
Olga Méndez was the first Puerto Rican woman elected to a state legislature in the United States mainland. Born in Puerto Rico, she moved to New York as a child and grew up in the Spanish Harlem (East Harlem) section of Manhattan (New York County). A decades long member of the Democratic Party, she switched party affiliation in December 2002 and joined the Republican Party. This move was considered by many as the fatal blow to her long political career, resulting in a loss for re-election in the November 2004 general election. She was defeated by Jose M. Serrano, son of U.S. Congressman Jose Serrano, thus bringing an end to her 26 year run as state senator for her district. She passed away from cancer in her East Harlem home on July 29, 2009. The "Olga Mendez Apartments" complex in the East Harlem section of Manhattan were named in her honor.
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