Jessica Ramos (born June 27, 1985) is an American politician from the state of New York. Ramos is a member of the Democratic Party.[1] Since 2019, she has served in the New York State Senate representing District 13, which currently includes the Queens neighborhoods of Corona, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights.[2][3][1]
Jessica Ramos | |
|---|---|
NYS_Senator_Jessica_Ramos_(cropped).jpg) | |
| Member of the New York Senate from the 13th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Jose Peralta |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 27, 1985 Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Hofstra University (dropped out) |
| Website | State Senate website State Senate campaign website Mayoral campaign website |
In September 2024, Ramos announced that she was running for mayor of New York City, challenging incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, and other state elected officials in the Democratic primary for the 2025 mayoral election.[4]
Early life and education
editRamos was born at Elmhurst Hospital and raised in Queens, New York City, the daughter of Colombian immigrants. Exposed to civic life at an early age, Ramos participated in community activities with the Colombian immigrant community's local civic groups and later on as a Democratic district leader and community board member.[5] She graduated from the Academy of American Studies and attended Hofstra University, before dropping out to work in the office of Hiram Monserrate.[6][7]
Career
editPrior to entering the State Senate, Ramos worked in New York City Hall where she was initially a communications adviser and ultimately became director of Latino media from April 2016 to December 2017.[clarification needed] In this role, Ramos was the city's top Latina spokeswoman and liaison to the Spanish-language press.[8] Before joining city government, Ramos was the communications director for Build Up NYC, an advocacy organization for construction, building, and maintenance workers. She has also done communications work with a local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and a regional branch of the Service Employees International Union.[8]
Ramos has served on Queens Community Board 3, and she was a Queens County Democratic district leader from 2010 to 2014.[8]
New York Senate
editIn January 2018, Ramos announced her candidacy for New York State Senate, challenging Jose Peralta, a former member of the Independent Democratic Conference, in the Democratic Party primary election.[9] Ramos defeated Peralta[10] and won the general election.[11] She received a number of high-profile endorsements, including from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio,[12] the New York Times,[13] and Kirsten Gillibrand.[14]
In the Senate, Ramos is serving as the chair on the Committee on Labor.[15] As a state senator, she sponsored a failed bill to decriminalize prostitution.[16] In 2023, Ramos criticized Governor Kathy Hochul's proposals to ease housing construction in New York because not all local labor unions supported the proposals.[17] That same year, Ramos said she would not vote for a budget deal to ease housing construction unless it also enshrined "good cause eviction" tenant protections into law.[18]
She is opposed to building Metropolitan Park, an integrated resort next to Citi Field.[19]
Personal life
editRamos was born in Elmhurst to an undocumented seamstress and a printing pressman. She was the first member of her immediate family to be born in America.[20] Ramos currently lives in Jackson Heights with her two sons.[21]
In 2019, Senator Ramos became housing co-tenants or roommates with fellow New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi and Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou while living in Albany, New York.[22]
References
edit- ^ a b "Jessica Ramos". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
- ^ Kaye, Jacob (May 17, 2022). "Queens Senate maps take shape". Queens Daily Eagle. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
- ^ "NY Senate District 13". NY State Senate. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
- ^ Fitzsimmons, Emma G. (September 13, 2024). "Jessica Ramos Will Run for Mayor Against Eric Adams". The New York Times. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ "Meet Jessica". Jessica Ramos for State Senate. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
- ^ Lewis, Rebecca C. (July 13, 2020). "Jessica Ramos isn't sugarcoating anything". City & State NY. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
- ^ Barca, Christopher (September 20, 2018). "Ramos rocks Peralta as IDC pols lose statewide". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Mayor de Blasio Announces New Director of Latino Media". The official website of the City of New York. April 8, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
- ^ Feller, Madison (September 13, 2018). "Jessica Ramos Talks Running for New York Senate in Midterm Elections 2018". Elle.com. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ^ Hallum, Mark (September 13, 2018). "Ramos upsets Peralta in Democratic primary". TimesLedger. Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ^ Cronin, Jon (November 7, 2018). "Jessica Ramos Sails To Victory In Unopposed Queens Senate Race | Queens, NY Patch". Patch.com. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ^ Bagcal, Jenna (August 13, 2018). "Mayor de Blasio backs former aide Jessica Ramos over Jose Peralta in Queens Senate race". QNS.com. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
- ^ "Opinion | The New York Times Endorses Alessandra Biaggi, Jessica Ramos and Zellnor Myrie for State Senate in Thursday's Primary". The New York Times. August 28, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
- ^ "Kirsten Gillibrand on Twitter". Retrieved November 10, 2018 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Senator Jessica Ramos". NY State Senate. November 13, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
- ^ van Zuylen-Wood, Simon (November 16, 2024). "The End of Denial: How Trump's rising popularity in New York (and everywhere else) exposed the Democratic Party's break with reality". New York magazine. Archived from the original on November 18, 2024.
- ^ Destra, Shantel (July 18, 2023). "'We will wait no longer': Hochul announces housing executive orders". City & State NY.
- ^ Lewis, Rebecca C. (April 19, 2023). "Lawmakers to Hochul: No housing without 'good cause'". City & State NY.
- ^ Drellich, Evan (May 28, 2024). "Steve Cohen's Citi Field casino bid suffers major blow, project's future uncertain". The New York Times. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ "About Jessica Ramos". NY State Senate. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
- ^ Law, Tara (January 25, 2018). "Peralta Faces Democratic Challenger for State Senate Seat | Jackson Heights Post". Jackson Heights Post. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
- ^ Wang, Vivian (March 18, 2019). "3 Young Lawmakers Share a Progressive Vision, and a 7-Room Apartment". The New York Times.