Source: America Out Loud, Unleashed, By Mayor Deb, September 13, 2025
Podcast Audio:
Back in 1938, an undersized and crooked-legged horse became the Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year. Born a few years earlier, this thoroughbred racehorse was deemed weak and uninspired while losing his first 17 races. Regardless, this unlikely champion became a symbol of hope for many Americans during the Great Depression. This underdog of a horse went on to inspire millions in the Hollywood film “Seabiscuit”—horse racing’s greatest rags-to-riches story.
Underdog, by definition, is a competitor who is thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest. Meanwhile, down the stretch, the candidates come. The names Mamdani, Cuomo, Adams, and Sliwa are littered about the political news stories in the race of the year. However, one name is missing. The longshot…the political outsider…the underdog…Joseph Hernandez.
Perhaps an inquiry is needed to see why Hernandez is being kept under wraps…for now, that is. Hernandez attests, “There is a bias in the media. They focus on big party candidates. They don’t give the underdog a real voice. Little do they know, I have been an underdog my whole life; I was born an underdog. My poll position is last place. I am like Seabiscuit. I’m gonna surprise them.” Eyes forward, blinders off.
According to the most recent New York Times/Siena poll, socialist Zohran Mamdani is the frontrunner in the race with 46% of the vote. A race fueled by super PACs (Political Action Committees), political bosses, donors with deep pockets, and special interests. The odds of winning may not favor Hernandez now, but things can change quickly in any race. As the jockeying continues in New York City for another 53 days, anything is possible.
Hernandez would agree, and his life story, one of inspiration and faith, is proof. Born in Camaguey, Cuba, the son of a political prisoner, Joseph fled communist Cuba with his family. At the age of seven, with nothing but hope and the determination to build a better life, he arrived in the United States. His father washed dishes. His mother cleaned homes. Despite the odds, Hernandez sought higher education and changed his trajectory. A “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” story. Today, he is a philanthropist, father of three, and a visionary leader in the healthcare field. He wasn’t born into privilege or handed power. He is the epitome of the American Dream.
As the homestretch of the NYC race approaches, I think I’ll sit back, sip a mint julep, and enjoy the show. I am not a betting woman, but there is nothing quite as exciting as betting on the underdog and watching them win! Moreover, when a longshot does win, it typically results in a very large payout for bettors o,r in this case, the voters. The conditions are right on track for this New York City mayoral race to go down in history. Move over, Seabiscuit! There’s a new underdog in town. The horses are still galloping and the race isn’t finished yet!
Joseph Hernandez is an American entrepreneur, public health innovator, philanthropist, and father. As a Cuban refugee and the son of a political prisoner, he fled the grip of communist rule at the age of seven, arriving in the United States with nothing but hope and the determination to build a better life. Since then, he has founded and led more than a dozen healthcare and pharmaceutical companies. He currently serves as the Founder and Senior Managing Partner of Blue Water Venture Partners LLC. Hernandez will appear on the ballot on November 4, 2025, as an independent candidate for Mayor of New York City.
