Jenifer Rajkumar: Career Timeline
Jenifer Rajkumar's career has spanned civil rights law, government service, academia, and elected office. The following timeline traces her professional trajectory from her education through her service in the New York State Assembly and subsequent campaigns for citywide office.
Education and Early Career
Rajkumar graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004 with a bachelor's degree, completing her studies magna cum laude and earning induction into Phi Beta Kappa 1. She received the Alice Paul Award for exemplary service to women and families during her time at Penn 2. She then earned her J.D. from Stanford Law School in 2008, receiving distinction for pro bono legal work 3.
Civil Rights Law Practice (circa 2008-2016)
Following law school, Rajkumar practiced as a civil rights lawyer at a national firm, litigating class action cases on behalf of workers, tenants, and women 4. She served on the legal team in Velez v. Novartis, a workplace gender discrimination case the United Nations recognized among the ten most significant cases worldwide for advancing women's equality 5. She also collaborated with the U.S. Department of Justice on qui tam cases targeting corporate fraud 6.
National Women's Law Center Fellowship
Rajkumar worked in Washington, D.C., as a fellow at the National Women's Law Center, advancing policy at the federal level on women's equality 7.
Manhattan City Council Run (2013)
Rajkumar ran for Manhattan City Council in the 1st Council District in 2013. She lost in the Democratic primary .
Gateway Plaza Tenant Lawsuit (2014)
In 2014, Rajkumar was involved in initiating a $100 million class action lawsuit on behalf of tenants at the Gateway Plaza complex in lower Manhattan. The lawsuit was filed through the firm Sanford Heisler, though the case generated a legal dispute when rival counsel at Newman Ferrara LLP alleged that a nearly identical complaint had been filed without permission. The firms ultimately agreed to collaborate as co-counsel, and the matter was resolved .
Assembly District 65 Primary (2016)
Rajkumar ran in the 2016 Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 65 in lower Manhattan, the seat previously held by Sheldon Silver. She finished behind Yuh-Line Niou and Paul Newell .
Director of Immigration Affairs (2017-2020)
Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed Rajkumar as Director of Immigration Affairs and Special Counsel for New York State in 2017. Working out of the Department of State and the Governor's executive chamber, she built and led the Liberty Defense Project, a first-in-the-nation $31 million public-private project to provide immigrants with legal services .
CUNY Lehman College (concurrent)
Rajkumar served as an adjunct professor at the City University of New York's Lehman College during this period, teaching and mentoring students 12.
Assembly District 38 Primary Victory (June 2020)
Rajkumar defeated four-term incumbent Michael Miller and challenger Joseph De Jesus in the Democratic primary for Assembly District 38 on June 23, 2020. Her victory was described as part of a wave of insurgent primary wins in Queens that cycle .
General Election Win (November 2020)
Rajkumar defeated Republican Giovanni Perna in the November 3, 2020, general election with 72.6 percent of the vote, becoming the first Indian-American woman elected to a New York State office .
Assumed Office (January 2021)
Rajkumar took office on January 1, 2021, representing the 38th Assembly District .
Adams Transition Team Appointment (December 2021)
Mayor-elect Eric Adams appointed Rajkumar as a senior advisor on his transition team in December 2021 .
Domestic Workers' Rights Package Signed (December 2021)
Governor Kathy Hochul signed Rajkumar's legislative package extending full protections of the New York State Human Rights Law to domestic workers and expanding their paid family leave benefits .
Crime Victims Bill Signed (June 2022)
Governor Hochul signed Rajkumar's bill expanding compensation for victims of crime, including victims of gross reckless endangerment .
Reelection (November 2022)
Rajkumar was reelected without a contested Democratic primary, winning with 97.8 percent of the vote in the general election .
AAPI Commission Bill Signed (2023)
Governor Hochul signed Rajkumar's bill creating New York State's first Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission .
Diwali School Holiday Legislation (2023)
Rajkumar led passage of bill A.7769, designating Diwali as a New York City public school holiday, concluding a campaign that advocates had pursued for approximately 30 years .
SMOKEOUT Act Passage (2024)
The SMOKEOUT Act (A8428A/S7998A), which Rajkumar authored, was passed into law, granting municipalities across the state the authority to shut down unlicensed marijuana retail operations .
Reelection (November 2024)
Rajkumar won reelection again without a contested Democratic primary .
Comptroller Campaign Launch and Withdrawal (November 2024-January 2025)
Rajkumar launched a campaign for New York City Comptroller in November 2024, filing an exploratory committee earlier that summer. In January 2025, she withdrew from the comptroller race and redirected her campaign toward the office of Public Advocate .
Public Advocate Campaign (January-June 2025)
On January 27, 2025, Rajkumar announced her candidacy for New York City Public Advocate, challenging incumbent Jumaane Williams. She lost the Democratic primary on June 24, 2025, with Williams winning by a margin exceeding 50 percentage points .
Empire State of Mind Act Introduction (February 2025)
Rajkumar introduced the Empire State of Mind Act (A2719), a 20-page comprehensive mental health bill addressing community treatment, patient advocacy, and care coordination within the criminal justice and shelter systems .
Assembly Primary Defeat (June 2026)
Rajkumar lost her bid for a fourth term in the Assembly, defeated in the June 23, 2026, Democratic primary by DSA-endorsed challenger David Orkin. Orkin received 58.8 percent of the vote to Rajkumar's 40.9 percent .