NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Jessica Ramos, a New York State senator from Queens, announced her candidacy for mayor on Friday, positioning herself as a challenger to Mayor Eric Adams in the 2025 Democratic primary amid multiple federal investigations into his administration.
“This year we’re fighting for the heart and soul of our nation, and in 2025 we’re fighting for the heart and soul of the city of New York,” Ramos said in a campaign video released Friday.
Ramos, who was born and raised in Queens, has represented the 13th District in the State Senate for the past six years, covering neighborhoods such as Corona, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and parts of Rego Park and Forest Hills.
During her time as a progressive state senator, she has raised the minimum wage, expanding childcare, fighting for union workers, supporting small businesses, securing historic tenant protections, and defending first responders, according to her video.
“I’ve stepped up in times of crisis and made it my mission to keep women and children out of poverty. I fought to protect every worker and walked alongside picket lines,” Ramos said.
Amid an ongoing federal investigation surrounding Adams’ close associates, Ramos took a swipe at the mayor. “You never have to wonder who I’m working for or who’s paying me. We need to bring that back to City Hall,” she said.
Ramos’ mayoral bid is focused on “bringing the voices of working families, immigrants, and everyday New Yorkers to City Hall,” according to her campaign website.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, she has pushed legislation to grant farm workers basic rights, tackled child poverty, and secured $2.1 billion for a fund benefiting workers excluded from pandemic-related relief.
Raised in Astoria by Colombian immigrant parents—her mother, an undocumented seamstress who crossed the Mexican border alone at 24, and her father, a printing pressman detained in a workplace raid in the 1980s— Ramos has deep roots in labor advocacy and community service. She attended Queens public schools and now lives in Jackson Heights with her two sons.
As the first American-born member of her family, Ramos said she feels a “deep sense of responsibility in bridging the gap between immigrant and non-immigrant communities,” according to her website.
In her mayoral campaign, Ramos aims to unite New Yorkers around a shared vision for a more equitable city, placing particular emphasis on the needs of working families and immigrant communities, she said.
Ramos joins a growing field of challengers to Adams in next year’s primary, including New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and Brooklyn State Sen. Zellnor Myrie. Former NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer has also been considering joining the race, and there is speculation former Gov. Andrew Cuomo may throw his hat in the ring.