Juanita Perez Williams is running for Congress to represent New York's 24th district. She is a Mexican-American whose grandparents migrated from Guanajuato, Mexico. As a child, Juanita participated in one of the first Early Head-Start programs, was a recipient of free school lunches, attended college through the Equal Opportunity Program and in 1986 received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego.

While receiving her law degree, Juanita served six years in the Navy Judge Advocates Program (JAGC) where she handled high profile criminal cases, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Upon completion of her military service, Juanita relocated with her family to Upstate New York.