Laura Garza
Laura Garza is an American socialist politician, a garment worker and a member of UNITE HERE Local 187. Garza ran twice for public office in Florida; 1993 for Mayor of Miami, and 1994 for United States House of Representatives in Florida's 21st congressional district. Both efforts were unsuccessful. Garza ran as the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) candidate for Vice President in 1996. She and running mate James Harris received 8,463 votes. Garza has been an unsuccessful candidate for Boston City Council three times; 2003 and 2005 as an at-large candidate, and 2009 as a candidate for  the District 1 seat. Garza was the 2006 SWP candidate for the United States House of Representatives in Massachusetts's 8th congressional district, which includes Cambridge, Chelsea, Somerville and about three quarters of Boston. She was the sole challenger to Democratic incumbent Mike Capuano, to whom she lost, receiving 12,390 votes, 9% of the total.