A New Feline Politician in Queens

In a surprising twist in New York City politics, a cat named Leo has emerged as a unique candidate. Forget the usual suspects like Mamdani, Adams, and Cuomo; Leo, a nine-year-old tabby, is attempting to change the game.

Last month, stickers urging voters to consider writing in “Leonamche” surfaced on utility poles throughout West Queens.

Leo the Cat, a lifelong resident of Ridgewood, is particularly notable as the only four-legged candidate running in District 30, which includes areas like Ridgewood, Maspeth, Glendale, Middle Village, and Elmhurst. He’s vying for a spot in the November 4th election against two human candidates: budget director Phil Wong and another aide of Robert Holden, Alicia Viknas.

Wong is running as a Democrat, while Viknas is campaigning on both the Republican and Conservative lines. Leo might not have a large following—just 139 people on Instagram—but he’s made some bold promises, including a challenge to what he calls the “conservative chokehold” in the district.

Besides his antics, Leo’s campaign stands out in that he claims to “give denial” about the people, whatever that might mean. His owner, Raquel Namche Pacho, also a member of the Ridgewood Tenant Union, is responsible for running this unconventional campaign.

Namche Pacho, 41, expressed her frustrations about mainstream candidates who fail to address pressing community issues such as high rents and the cost of living. After noticing a lack of progressive ideas in typical races, she decided that a more creative approach was necessary.

In a rather whimsical policy proposal, Leo has vowed to push for mandatory daily afternoon naps across the city if elected.

When asked about the legality of a cat’s candidacy, a source from the election commission humorously questioned whether the reporter was “intoxicated,” stating that only humans can legally hold office in New York.

For his part, incumbent Robert Holden has been skeptical, pointing out that Leo doesn’t even live in the district. “No one cares about Leo!” Holden’s spokesperson, Rocky, lamented. “His owner is just using him for politically motivated antics.” Rocky appears to seemingly feel some sympathy for Leo, hinting at a belief that Namche Pacho should focus on issues relevant to her own district.