Assemblywoman Rajkumar wins slew of endorsements, cash infusion in campaign for Public Advocate

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New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, candidate for NYC Public Advocate, received a number of high profile endorsements from out-of-state, and alongside grew her campaign war chest way above that of her opponent, incumbent  Jumaane Williams. She also received endorsements closer to home from within the city and the state.

Two Indian American lawmakers on Capitol Hill, expressed support for her candidacy, Reps. Ro Khanna, D-California, and Shri Thanedar, D-Michigan, though it is not clear how much it will affect Rajkumar’s fortunes on the ground in the Big Apple.

Khanna holds significant clout within the Democratic Party. He is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, and a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

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Thanedar is a Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Member of House Committee on Agriculture, and Board Executive of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Rajkumar was endorsed last month by state and city lawmakers in Queens and Brooklyn, as well as the political club, Hell’s Kitchen Democrats (HKDems). The way she sees it, getting federal lawmakers endorsements adds national support, she told Desi Talk.

“Jenifer Rajkumar is the future of the Democratic Party in New York. She has the respect of people nationwide because she has been a fierce advocate for women’s rights, health care, and immigrant communities across the country,” Khanna said in a statement quoted in the press release. “Jenifer has spent her career securing human rights and protections for working people, from spearheading the passage of landmark laws for domestic workers to establishing New York State’s first-ever AAPI Commission, ensuring that Asian American voices are heard in government,” Khanna added. “She made history again by delivering the Diwali School Holiday, a major victory for inclusion and representation.”

Thanedar expressed similar sentiments adding that Rajkumar “has set a gold standard for what it means to be an effective public servant—someone who listens to the concerns of working people and takes real action to improve their lives. Jenifer stands out as a fighter for quality-of-life issues that matter to everyday New Yorkers”

Nevertheless, it promises to be a tough race as Williams has held office since 2019, and is a strong critic of Mayor Eric Adams, which has become somewhat of an asset now.

For Rajkumar, her strong support of the Mayor who is embroiled in controversy, may come back to haunt her despite efforts to distance herself. But she has not yet endorsed anyone in the increasingly contentious NYC Mayor’s race. The way her campaign sees it, she has a good relationship with several candidates in the field including Mayor Adams who she campaigned for in his Mayoral race of 2021; and Governor Andrew Cuomo who appointed her Director of Immigration Affairs for the State in 2017.

The elected officials all praised Rajkumar for her record as a unifier as well as her accomplishments at the local and national levels.

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