Jessica Ramos: Career Timeline
Jessica Ramos's career has moved from community organizing and labor advocacy in Queens to the State Senate, where she rose to chair the Labor Committee before a mayoral run and a 2026 primary loss put her Senate tenure on course to end after the current term. The timeline below traces that progression in chronological order, with citations to primary or strong secondary sources for each major moment.
Education and early activism
Ramos attended Queens public schools and Hofstra University, where she studied international business 1,2. From a young age she was drawn to activism, rooted in her Colombian immigrant family's experience, and was elected president of the NYC Colombian Liberal Youth Council in 2002 at age 17 3.
Labor and government work
Ramos worked with labor organizations including Build Up NYC, SSEU Local 371, and 32BJ SEIU, helping workers win contracts and protections 4. She served as Director of Latino Media for the NYC Mayor's Office under Bill de Blasio, connecting immigrant communities to city services 5. She also served on Queens Community Board 3 and as Democratic District Leader in the 39th Assembly District from 2010 to 2014 3. This period built her network and credentials.
Elected to the State Senate
Ramos challenged incumbent Jose Peralta, a former IDC member, in the Democratic primary and won, part of a progressive wave that swept out IDC senators across New York 6. She was endorsed by Mayor de Blasio, The New York Times, and Senator Gillibrand, and ran unopposed in the general election 6. She took office in January 2019.
Senate tenure and Labor Committee
As a senator, Ramos was appointed chair of the Senate Labor Committee and built a record focused on workers' rights 5. She helped raise the minimum wage and index it to inflation, authored prevailing-wage expansion and wage-theft enforcement laws, championed $2.1 billion for excluded workers during the pandemic, stopped the LaGuardia airtrain project, and opposed the Willets Point casino 7,5. She passed 52 laws over her tenure 7. She was re-elected in 2020, 2022, and 2024 8.
The mayoral race
In September 2024, Ramos announced a campaign for mayor of New York City 6. On June 6, 2025, she endorsed former Governor Andrew Cuomo for mayor, a notable shift given her history as a Cuomo critic, while remaining on the ballot herself 6. She placed ninth in the first round of ranked-choice voting 6. The episode drew scrutiny and is detailed in the controversies section of this series.
Primary loss
Ramos was defeated for re-election to the State Senate in the 2026 Democratic primary, losing to Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas 6. The loss put her Senate career on course to end after four terms, once the current term concludes. The race is detailed in the campaigns section of this series.
Summary of offices and roles held
* Director of Latino Media, NYC Mayor's Office; labor organizer (Build Up NYC, SSEU Local 371, 32BJ SEIU).
* Queens Community Board 3; Democratic District Leader, 39th Assembly District (2010 to 2014).
* New York State Senate, 13th District: January 2019 to present (re-elected 2020, 2022, 2024; lost the 2026 Democratic primary).
* Chair, Senate Labor Committee.
* 2025 candidate for Mayor of New York City (placed ninth).