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

By
Ela Dutt
-
0
- ADVERTISEMENT -
Share
NY State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, left, with a constituent. PHOTO: Header photo on campaign website @jeniferforny.com/a-better-new-york

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.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

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.

But Rajkumar says she is focused on her own vision for the City, bringing what she describes as “a new brand of public service” to government.
“The state of our Government is in peril. I have prepared my whole life to take on this moment. We need fresh, new leadership. We need to bring a new standard of excellence to government and that is what I am going to do,” she said.
Rajkumar is pointing to her fundraising prowess, and that so far she is the only woman candidate running for a citywide office to qualify for matching funds. According to the campaign, she has a significant fundraising advantage of $1,228,617 cash on hand while Williams has yet to quality for matching funds.
Endorsements closer home include Mayor Sam Joshi of Edison, New Jersey, the youngest and first Indian American mayor of the multicultural, multiethnic city, as well as three District Leaders.

“As the Mayor of Edison, New Jersey, I recognize the extraordinary leadership of Jenifer Rajkumar—a trailblazer who has shattered barriers and delivered real change for New Yorkers. Jenifer and I share a deep understanding of what it means to make history—not just for ourselves, but for our communities,” Joshi is quoted saying in the press release.

He called Rajkumar’s efforts at winning the many years-long effort to make Diwali a public school holiday, “a breathtaking achievement that generations had fought for.”  Making it a holiday had impacted millions of families, Joshi said, adding that, “Her work commands respect and admiration, not only from Indian Americans across the U.S., but from all who believe in inclusion, fairness, and good governance.”

The three District Leaders who have endorsed Rajkumar include Melissa Sklarz (D-AD30) whose constituency covers Woodside, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Maspeth; Arleny Alvarado-McCalla (D-AD54) who represents Cypress Hills, East New York, and Bushwick; as well as Heriberto Mateo (D-AD54) also representing parts of Cypress Hills, East New York, and Bushwick.

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

Related posts:

New York Assemblywoman Rajkumar gets early start to campaign for re-election NY State Assembly District 38 in Queens has been overlooked too long: Indian-American candidate Jenifer Rajkumar Supporting domestic workers:NY Assemblywoman Rajkumar’s bills signed into law by Gov. Hochul Several young Indian-Americans poised to win NY primary, but final results hang on absentee ballots

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR