Jessica Ramos: Campaigns and Elections
Jessica Ramos's electoral career spans a defining 2018 upset, three re-elections, an unsuccessful mayoral bid, and a primary loss that ended her Senate tenure. This section walks through each in order, with results and context, citing primary or strong secondary sources.
2018: The IDC upset
Ramos's first race was the 2018 Democratic primary against incumbent Jose Peralta, a former member of the Independent Democratic Conference 1. She campaigned as a progressive challenger on immigrant rights and workers' issues and won, part of a statewide wave that unseated IDC members 1. Endorsed by de Blasio, Gillibrand, and The New York Times, she ran unopposed in the general election 1. The win launched her career.
2020: Re-election
Ramos defeated Diana Sanchez in the 2020 Democratic primary and Jesus Gonzalez in the general election 2. The win consolidated her hold on the district and extended her Senate tenure.
2022: Re-election
Ramos won re-election in 2022 with no contested primary or general election, reflecting her incumbency advantage 2. The comfortable win came as she built her Labor Committee record.
2024: Re-election
Ramos again won re-election in 2024 without a contested primary 2. Her fourth consecutive win positioned her for either continued Senate service or a higher-office run.
2025: The mayoral campaign
In September 2024, Ramos announced a campaign for mayor of New York City 1. On June 6, 2025, she endorsed Andrew Cuomo for mayor while remaining on the ballot herself 1. She placed ninth in the first round of ranked-choice voting, far behind the eventual winner, Zohran Mamdani 1. When asked afterward whether she would endorse Mamdani, she said he was the Democratic nominee and Democrats should vote for him 1. The mayoral campaign is detailed in the controversies section.
2026: Primary loss
Ramos was defeated for re-election to the State Senate in the 2026 Democratic primary by Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas 1. The Working Families Party, which had backed Ramos in earlier races, endorsed Gonzalez-Rojas 3. The loss put her Senate career on course to end after four terms, once the current term concludes. Factors cited by observers included the Cuomo endorsement, the distraction of the mayoral campaign, and shifting progressive dynamics in the district.
Electoral pattern and analysis
Ramos's electoral arc follows a dramatic trajectory: A breakthrough upset in 2018, three comfortable re-elections, a failed mayoral bid that diluted her standing, and a primary loss to a challenger who consolidated the progressive support Ramos had once held. The pattern suggests that her political choices in 2025, particularly the Cuomo endorsement, disrupted the coalition that had sustained her. Her legislative record was strong; her political positioning proved fragile.
Summary of electoral results
* 2018 State Senate (District 13): Won Democratic primary (defeated incumbent Jose Peralta); ran unopposed in general.
* 2020 State Senate: Re-elected (defeated Diana Sanchez in primary, Jesus Gonzalez in general).
* 2022 State Senate: Re-elected (unopposed).
* 2024 State Senate: Re-elected (unopposed primary).
* 2025 Mayor of NYC: Placed ninth in Democratic primary (first round); endorsed Cuomo.
* 2026 State Senate: Lost Democratic primary to Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas.