Jenifer Rajkumar

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Jenifer Rajkumar
Rajkumar in 2023
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 38th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2021
Preceded byMichael G. Miller
Personal details
Born (1982-09-01) September 1, 1982 (age 42)
Tarrytown, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania (BA)
Stanford University (JD)
Signature
WebsiteCampaign website
State Assembly website

Jenifer Rajkumar (born September 1, 1982) is an American politician and civil rights lawyer[1] serving as a member of the New York State Assembly from the 38th district. A Democrat, she represents the Queens neighborhoods of Glendale, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, and Woodhaven.

She is the first South Asian-American woman ever elected to a New York State Office.[2][3] Rajkumar is known as the “Lady in Red” for her frequent public appearances in red attire.[4] In January 2025, she announced that she would challenge incumbent Jumaane Williams for the position of New York City Public Advocate, calling for “A New Brand of Politics”[5] and a complete overhaul of City government.[6] She has been known as one of the closest allies of Mayor Eric Adams in the New York State Legislature,[7][8][9][10][11][12] but declined to endorse him for re-election.[13][14][15]

Early life and education

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Rajkumar was born and raised in Tarrytown in Westchester County.[16] Her parents are doctors who immigrated from India and first settled in Queens.[17] She is a graduate of Hackley School. Rajkumar earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School.[citation needed].

Career

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Rajkumar previously practiced law as a civil rights attorney and worked as an adjunct professor of political science at CUNY's Lehman College in the Bronx.[when?][18][19]

On February 6, 2017, Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed Rajkumar as the Director of Immigration Affairs and Special Counsel for the New York Department of State.[20]

In December 2021, Mayor-Elect Eric Adams appointed Rajkumar as a Senior Advisor on his Transition Team.[21]

New York State Assembly

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Rajkumar is currently a member of the New York State Assembly from the 38th district, representing Queens neighborhoods of Glendale, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, and Woodhaven. In 2020, Rajkumar became the first Indian-American woman ever elected to the New York State Legislature.[22]

New York State Assembly tenure

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Assemblywoman Rajkumar led and won passage of her bill establishing Diwali as a School Holiday in New York City Public Schools.[23] Rajkumar also authored and passed the SMOKEOUT Act shutting down illegal smokeshops proliferating around New York.[24]

In her first term, Rajkumar passed a legislative package for domestic workers, securing them the full protections of the state human rights law, and expanding their paid family leave benefits.[25] Governor Hochul signed Rajkumar's legislative package into law in December 2021.[26] Rajkumar also passed a bill expanding benefits for victims of crime, which the Governor signed into law in June 2022.[27]

Rajkumar was appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Diversity in Law.[28] She also serves on the following Assembly Committees: Judiciary, Veterans' Affairs, Committee on Aging, Consumer Affairs, and Small Business.[29]

Political campaigns

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2011 District Leader race

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Rajkumar speaking at a rally as a district leader in 2012

In 2011, Rajkumar was elected female district leader for the 64th district Part C of the New York State Assembly,[30] defeating 28-year incumbent Linda Belfer with over 70% of the vote.[31][32] She was re-elected to that office two more times, in 2013 and 2015.[33] As district leader, Rajkumar led the effort to bring M9 bus service back to Battery Park City in Lower Manhattan and has worked closely with Democracy for Battery Park City, an organization which seeks representation for residents of the neighborhood on the board of the Battery Park City Authority.[34][35][36][37]

2013 City Council race

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In 2013, Rajkumar ran for the New York City Council in the Democratic primary in the 1st district in Lower Manhattan, losing to incumbent Margaret Chin.[38] Rajkumar won 41.5% of the vote.[39][40] Rajkumar's campaign championed affordable housing and community-friendly development. She was endorsed by various organizations and unions, such as The Sierra Club, and local Allied Craftworkers and Ironworkers groups.[41]

2016 State Assembly race

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She ran for the New York State Assembly in the 65th District,[42] as the seat was occupied by Alice Cancel, the winner of a special election on April 19, 2016, to replace Sheldon Silver, who was convicted of corruption and expelled from the Assembly in 2015.[43][44][45][46][47]

Rajkumar finished second in a six-way Democratic primary; the winner, Yuh-Line Niou, went on to win in the general election in November.[48]

2020 State Assembly race

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Rajkumar ran in the primary for the 38th New York State Assembly district in Queens, which includes portions of the Glendale, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, and Woodhaven neighborhoods, against incumbent Democrat Michael G. Miller and challenger Joey De Jesus.[49] Rajkumar was endorsed by California Congressman Ro Khanna in February 2020.[50] In May 2020, City & State criticized Rajkumar alongside a slate of other candidates for carpetbagging across multiple primaries and elections.[51]

Rajkumar defeated Miller and De Jesus in the June 2020 Democratic primary and won over Giovanni Perna in the November general election.[52]

2025 New York City Public Advocate campaign

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On August 12, 2024, Rajkumar announced her campaign for New York City Comptroller in 2025.[16]

On January 27, 2025, she pivoted her campaign to Public Advocate, challenging incumbent Jumaane Williams in the Democratic primary.[53]

Electoral history

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Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
New York City Council, District 1
September 10, 2013 Primary[54] Margaret Chin (inc.) Democratic 8,846 58.88%
Jenifer Rajkumar Democratic 6,171 41.07%
Write-ins 7 0.05%
New York State Assembly, District 65
September 13, 2016 Primary[55] Yuh-Line Niou Democratic 2,790 31.42%
Jenifer Rajkumar Democratic 1,701 19.16%
Paul Newell Democratic 1,425 16.05%
Alice Cancel (inc.) Democratic 1,108 12.48%
Don Lee Democratic 995 11.20%
Gigi Li Democratic 844 9.50%
Write-ins 17 0.19%
New York State Assembly, District 38
June 23, 2020 Primary[56] Jenifer Rajkumar Democratic 3,817 51.95%
Michael G. Miller (inc.) Democratic 1,851 25.19%
Joseph de Jesus Democratic 1,668 22.70%
Write-ins 12 0.16%
November 3, 2020 General[57] Jenifer Rajkumar Democratic 25,232 72.61%
Giovanni Perna R/C/Save Our City 9,443 27.17%
Write-ins 77 0.22%
November 8, 2022 General[58] Jenifer Rajkumar (inc.) Democratic 11,662 97.82%
Write-ins 260 2.18%
November 3, 2024 General[59] Jenifer Rajkumar (inc.) Democratic 22,718 97.77%
Write-ins 519 2.23%

Personal life

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Rajkumar is a practicing Hindu.[60]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Jenifer Rajkumar - Assembly District 38 |Assembly Member Directory | New York State Assembly". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  2. ^ "Lehman Professor Makes History as First South Asian Woman Elected to State Assembly". www.lehman.edu. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  3. ^ "Jenifer Rajkumar - Assembly District 38 |Assembly Member Directory | New York State Assembly". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  4. ^ McCarthy, Craig; Brown, Haley (January 27, 2025). "'Lady in Red' Jenifer Rajkumar announces campaign for NYC public advocate". Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  5. ^ "A New Brand of Public Service: Why I'm Running for Public Advocate". City & State NY. January 27, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  6. ^ McCarthy, Craig; Brown, Haley (January 27, 2025). "'Lady in Red' Jenifer Rajkumar announces campaign for NYC public advocate". Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  7. ^ Pretsky, Holly (August 24, 2023). "The highly visible alliance between Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar and Mayor Eric Adams". City & State. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  8. ^ Shkurhan, Iryna (September 27, 2024). "Assembly Member Rajkumar breaks silence on Mayor Adams' indictment, defends due process amid calls for resignation". QNS.com. Retrieved February 20, 2025. given her omnipresence alongside the mayor at press conferences across the city. Being spotted in her signature red dress at events far outside her Woodhaven district raised eyebrows and questions.
  9. ^ Ridlin-Nadler, Max (February 19, 2025). "Jenifer Rajkumar and Eric Adams Had Something Special. No More". Hell Gate NYC. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  10. ^ Bhole, Aneeta; Troutman, Matt (July 14, 2024). "'Lady in red' NY Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar's potential comptroller run raises eyebrows over Adams ties". New York Post. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  11. ^ Fitzsimmons, Emma (July 8, 2024). "Who's Running Against Mayor Adams? The Answer May Shape Other Key Races". The New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2025. Jenifer Rajkumar, a state assemblywoman from Queens who is often at Mr. Adams's side...Ms. Rajkumar, one of the mayor's closest political allies
  12. ^ Coltin, Jeff (January 6, 2025). "New York lawmaker to shake up citywide race for public advocate". Politico. Retrieved February 20, 2025. Rajkumar, a centrist Democrat,is one of Adams' closest allies in the state Legislature and regularly appears at his public events far outside her central Queens district.
  13. ^ Beeferman, Jason (February 7, 2025). "Rajkumar differs with Adams on key priority". POLITICO. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  14. ^ "Jenifer Rajkumar talks turmoil at City Hall and bid for Public Advocate". ny1.com. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  15. ^ "Jenifer Rajkumar and Eric Adams Had Something Special. No More". Hell Gate. February 19, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  16. ^ a b Bhole, Anita; Troutman, Matt (July 14, 2024). "'Lady in red' NY Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar's potential comptroller run raises eyebrows over Adams ties". New York Post. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  17. ^ "Not Just Jenny From the Block". The New York Times Blog. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  18. ^ "Lehman Professor Makes History as First South Asian Woman Elected to State Assembly". www.lehman.cuny.edu. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  19. ^ Schilling, John (July 17, 2023). "Trial Lawyers Association honors Queens lawmaker with leadership award – QNS". qns.com. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  20. ^ "Human Rights Attorney Jenifer Rajkumar Named to New Post in New York Department of State". India West. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  21. ^ Kaye, Jacob (December 3, 2021). "Adams announces transition committee members". Queens Daily Eagle. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  22. ^ Sundaram, Arya (July 6, 2024). "NY Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar advances potential city comptroller run". Gothamist. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  23. ^ "Jenifer Rajkumar - Assembly District 38 |Assembly Member Directory | New York State Assembly". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  24. ^ King, Nelson A. (April 25, 2024). "Rajkumar declares victory in war against illegal smoke shops – Caribbean Life". www.caribbeanlife.com. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  25. ^ Bardolf, Deirdre (January 6, 2022). "New laws to protect domestic workers". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  26. ^ Bardolf, Deirdre (January 6, 2022). "New laws to protect domestic workers". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  27. ^ Mohamed, Carlotta (July 6, 2022). "Governor signs Queens lawmaker's bill into law to support and empower victims of crimes – QNS.com". qns.com. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  28. ^ "Jenifer Rajkumar - Assembly District 38 |Assembly Member Directory | New York State Assembly". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  29. ^ "Jenifer Rajkumar - Assembly District 38 |Assembly Member Directory | New York State Assembly". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  30. ^ Dutt, Ela (March 21, 2017). "Indian American Jenifer Rajkumar appointed Director of Immigration Affairs of New York state | News India Times | Page 25433". Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  31. ^ "You Should Run: Advancing Social Justice by Running for Office". Harvard Law School. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  32. ^ Dutt, Ela (November 22, 2019). "NY State Assembly District 38 in Queens has been overlooked too long: Indian-American candidate Jenifer Rajkumar | News India Times". Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  33. ^ "Manhattan Democrats District Leaders". Manhattan Democratic Party. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  34. ^ "District Leader Rajkumar Kicks Off Campaign for Assembly Seat". The Broadsheet. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  35. ^ "Indian American attorney Jenifer Rajkumar at the center of a $100 million lawsuit in New York". American Bazaar Online. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  36. ^ Goldman, Henry (January 23, 2020). "New Generation of NYC Insurgents Seeks Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Fervor". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  37. ^ Dutt, Ela (June 12, 2017). "South Asians Must Take Advantage Of "NaturalizeNY": Rajkumar | News India Times". Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  38. ^ "Downtown Democratic Council Primary Results". DNA Info. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  39. ^ "2013 New York City Primary Results". The New York Times.
  40. ^ "Jenifer Rajkumar Loses in Bid for Manhattan City Council". India West. September 17, 2013. Archived from the original on September 30, 2016.
  41. ^ "Your guide to Manhattan Council District 1 — Lower Manhattan". nydailynews.com.
  42. ^ Perler, Elie (April 25, 2016). "Rajkumar Announces Campaign for Assembly". Bowery Boogie. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  43. ^ Weiser, Benjamin (July 13, 2017). "Sheldon Silver's 2015 Corruption Conviction Is Overturned". The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  44. ^ "Democrat Alice Cancel Wins Sheldon Silver's Old NYS Assembly Seat". CBS New York. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  45. ^ "Alice Cancel, Sheldon Silver's Chosen Successor, Takes His Assembly Seat". Observer. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  46. ^ "Silver crony Alice Cancel wins his state Assembly seat". The New York Post. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  47. ^ McKinley, J. & Weiner, B. (July 20, 2020)"Sheldon Silver, Former N.Y. Assembly Speaker, Will Finally Go to Prison". New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  48. ^ "Niou set to be new Assemblymember for Downtown – DOWNTOWN EXPRESS". www.downtownexpress.com. September 14, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  49. ^ "Assembly primary challengers who are raising big money". CSNY. January 17, 2020.
  50. ^ "California Congressman Ro Khanna endorses Jenifer Rajkumar for Assembly District 38". QNS.com.
  51. ^ "The carpetbaggers in the 2020 primaries". CSNY. May 21, 2020.
  52. ^ Parrott, Max (July 23, 2020). "More insurgents claim primary wins". Queens Chronicle.
  53. ^ Brosnan, Erica (January 27, 2025). "Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar exits comptroller race, launches public advocate campaign". Spectrum News NY1. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  54. ^ "Primary Election 2013 Democratic Member of the City Council 1st Council District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. September 30, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  55. ^ "Primary Election 2016 Democratic Member of the Assembly 65th Assembly District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. September 26, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  56. ^ "Primary Election 2020 Democratic Member of the Assembly 38th Assembly District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. August 21, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  57. ^ "General Election 2020 Member of the Assembly 38th Assembly District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. December 3, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  58. ^ "General Election 2022 Member of the Assembly 38th Assembly District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. December 1, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  59. ^ "General Election 2024 Member of the Assembly 38th Assembly District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. December 3, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  60. ^ "New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar Introduces Legislation to Establish Diwali as Official Holiday". IndiaWest. May 15, 2021.
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