Jessica Ramos
Member of the New York Senate
from the 13th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2019
Preceded byJose Peralta
Personal details
Born (1985-06-27) June 27, 1985
Queens, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
EducationHofstra University (Dropped Out)
WebsiteState Senate website
Campaign website

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][4]

Early life and education

Ramos was born at Elmhurst Hospital and raised in Queens, 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

Prior to entering the State Senate, Ramos worked in City Hall where she was initially a communications adviser and ultimately became director of Latino media from April 2016 to December 2017. 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

In 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] 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.[16] 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.[17]

Personal life

Ramos 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.[18] Ramos currently lives in Jackson Heights with her two sons.[19]

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.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Jessica Ramos". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  2. ↑ Kaye, Jacob. "Queens Senate maps take shape". Queens Daily Eagle. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  3. ↑ "NY Senate District 13". NY State Senate. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Jessica Ramos". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Meet Jessica". Jessica Ramos for State Senate. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  6. ↑ i_beebe (July 12, 2020). "Jessica Ramos isn't sugarcoating anything". City & State NY. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Ramos rocks Peralta as IDC pols lose statewide". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 "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.
  9. ↑ "Jessica Ramos Talks Running for New York Senate in Midterm Elections 2018". Elle.com. September 13, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  10. ↑ Hallum, Mark (September 13, 2018). "Ramos upsets Peralta in Democratic primary". TimesLedger. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Jessica Ramos Sails To Victory In Unopposed Queens Senate Race | Queens, NY Patch". Patch.com. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Mayor de Blasio backs former aide Jessica Ramos over Jose Peralta in Queens Senate race". QNS.com. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Opinion | The New York Times Endorses Alessandra Biaggi, Jessica Ramos and Zellnor Myrie for State Senate in Thursday's Primary". The New York Times. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Kirsten Gillibrand on Twitter". Retrieved November 10, 2018 – via Twitter.
  15. ↑ "Senator Jessica Ramos". NY State Senate. November 13, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  16. ↑ "'We will wait no longer': Hochul announces housing executive orders". City & State NY. July 18, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Lawmakers to Hochul: No housing without 'good cause'". City & State NY. April 19, 2023.
  18. ↑ "About Jessica Ramos". NY State Senate. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Peralta Faces Democratic Challenger for State Senate Seat | Jackson Heights Post". Jackson Heights Post. January 25, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  20. ↑ Wang, Vivian (March 18, 2019). "3 Young Lawmakers Share a Progressive Vision, and a 7-Room Apartment". The New York Times.
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