Jenifer Rajkumar
Jenifer Rajkumar (Democratic Party) is a member of the New York State Assembly, representing District 38. She assumed office on January 1, 2021. Her current term ends on January 1, 2027.
Rajkumar (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the New York State Assembly to represent District 38. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Jenifer Rajkumar earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004 and a J.D. from Stanford Law School in 2008. Rajkumar's career experience includes working as a lawyer, an adjunct professor at CUNY, and as New York State's Director of Immigration Affairs & Special Counsel with the Governor Andrew Cuomo administration. She has served on the board of Represent Women.[1]
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Rajkumar was assigned to the following committees:
- Aging Committee
- Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee
- Health Committee
- Judiciary Committee
- Small Business Committee
- Veterans' Affairs Committee
2021-2022
Rajkumar was assigned to the following committees:
- Aging Committee
- Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee
- Judiciary Committee
- Small Business Committee
- Veterans' Affairs Committee
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2024
General election
General election for New York State Assembly District 38
Incumbent Jenifer Rajkumar won election in the general election for New York State Assembly District 38 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jenifer Rajkumar (D) | 97.7 | 21,091 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.3 | 506 | ||
| Total votes: 21,597 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jenifer Rajkumar advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 38.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Rajkumar in this election.
2022
See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2022
General election
General election for New York State Assembly District 38
Incumbent Jenifer Rajkumar won election in the general election for New York State Assembly District 38 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jenifer Rajkumar (D) | 97.8 | 11,662 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.2 | 260 | ||
| Total votes: 11,922 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jenifer Rajkumar advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 38.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Bella Matias (D)
2020
See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2020
General election
General election for New York State Assembly District 38
Jenifer Rajkumar defeated Giovanni Perna in the general election for New York State Assembly District 38 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jenifer Rajkumar (D) | 72.6 | 25,232 | |
| Giovanni Perna (R / Conservative Party / Save Our City Party) | 27.2 | 9,443 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 66 | ||
| Total votes: 34,741 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 38
Jenifer Rajkumar defeated incumbent Michael Miller and Joseph De Jesus in the Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 38 on June 23, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jenifer Rajkumar | 51.9 | 3,817 | |
| Michael Miller | 25.2 | 1,851 | ||
| Joseph De Jesus | 22.7 | 1,668 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 12 | ||
| Total votes: 7,348 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Giovanni Perna advanced from the Republican primary for New York State Assembly District 38.
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Giovanni Perna advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York State Assembly District 38.
2016
- See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2016
Elections for the New York State Assembly took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The filing deadline for major party candidates was July 14, 2016. The filing deadline for independent candidates was August 23, 2016.
Yuh-Line Niou defeated Bryan Jung, Manny Cavaco, and incumbent Alice Cancel in the New York State Assembly District 65 general election.[2][3]
| New York State Assembly, District 65 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Yuh-Line Niou |
76.20% | 29,716 | |
| Republican | Bryan Jung | 14.77% | 5,761 | |
| Green Party | Manny Cavaco | 3.46% | 1,348 | |
| Women's Equality | Alice Cancel Incumbent | 5.57% | 2,171 | |
| Total Votes | 38,996 | |||
| Source: New York Board of Elections | ||||
The following candidates ran in the New York State Assembly District 65 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| New York State Assembly, District 65 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Yuh-Line Niou |
31.48% | 2,790 | |
| Democratic | Gigi K. Li | 9.52% | 844 | |
| Democratic | Jenifer Rajkumar | 19.19% | 1,701 | |
| Democratic | Don Lee | 11.23% | 995 | |
| Democratic | Paul Newell | 16.08% | 1,425 | |
| Democratic | Alice Cancel Incumbent | 12.50% | 1,108 | |
| Total Votes | 8,863 | |||
Niou also ran on the Working Families Party ticket. Cancel also ran on the Women's Equality Party ticket.
Bryan Jung ran unopposed in the New York State Assembly District 65 Republican primary.[4][5]
| New York State Assembly, District 65 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Bryan Jung (unopposed) | |
Jung also ran on the Reform Party ticket. Manny Cavaco ran unopposed in the New York State Assembly District 65 Green primary.[4][5]
| New York State Assembly, District 65 Green Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Green Party | Manny Cavaco (unopposed) | |
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jenifer Rajkumar did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Jenifer Rajkumar did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Jenifer Rajkumar completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rajkumar's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
Jenifer is a civil rights lawyer and Professor at CUNY. She formerly worked for Governor Andrew Cuomo in a statewide leadership role helping vulnerable individuals across the state. Jenifer is proud to be born and raised in New York, as the first generation American in her family. Her mom was born in a mud hut in India. Her parents immigrated to the United States with just $300 and a suitcase, settling in Queens where they got their start. To honor the promise of a country that gave her family so much opportunity, Jenifer decided to dedicate her life to public service.
She graduated from Stanford Law School with distinction for her pro bono legal work on behalf of vulnerable individuals. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania at the top of her class magna cum laude, phi beta kappa where she received the Alice Paul Award for exemplary service to women and families. As a lawyer, Jenifer litigated cases against corporate greed and corruption. She represented workers, women, and tenants in class action lawsuits against multi-national corporations. She was ranked as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed Jenifer as Director of Immigration Affairs & Special Counsel in his administration. She built a first-in-the-nation $31 million project to help vulnerable families across NY State. She served as a statewide surrogate on the administration's key policy initiatives, traveling from the farms of upstate NY to her home in Queens.
- I am the only one in this race who can bring strong leadership and energy to our South Queens district. I formerly worked in a leadership role for Governor Andrew Cuomo, where I learned the strong leadership skills needed to rebuild South Queens after the devastation of the Coronavirus. I am the only in this race with the ability to bring in the funding and resources we need to rebuild our communities and schools, and to enhance our public safety.
- I am a common ground, common sense Democrat who takes bold action that makes an actual difference in people's lives. I am not an extremist. I am a decent person, a hard worker and a unifier. I work as hard as necessary to make a meaningful difference for individuals, and will do so for all my constituents. I believe in the words of President John F. Kennedy: "The life of service is a constant test of your will."
- I believe in accomplishment and achievement, for myself and others. I will help all my constituents reach their dreams- whether its a young person trying to navigate our education system, a family dreaming of home ownership, or a worker striving to make ends meet. The incumbent Mike Miller voted against equal pay for women. I believe that all of our daughters deserve the world. I will fight for opportunity for all. All I ask is for your vote, and then I will do everything I can to bring out the best in our district.
I am passionate about access to justice. I will ensure that my constituents from all backgrounds, income levels, and needs, have access to every resource including pro bono programs, nonprofit and civil and criminal legal service programs. As a long time lawyer, and expert in government and nonprofit legal services, I am better poised than any representative this district has ever had to ensure justice for my constituents. I believe that due process and the right to be heard is a fundamental American right, and I will ensure that each individual can access that right.
I am also passionate about education. I believe strongly in the potential of each child. As the beneficiary of a world class education, I want all young people in my district to have the same opportunities I had. I serve as a Professor at CUNY. I will fight to turn around failing schools, expand after school programs, which give children the edge, and fight for affordable college.
I am passionate about women's equality. Our daughters deserve the world and every opportunity for their health, education, and in the workplace.
I also care deeply about senior programs. Our parent and grandparents should have effective and well funded senior service programs and community centers.
Enhancing public safety and ending hate crimes, health care that is affordable to all, fixing the transportation desert, and good government and campaign finance reform, are all issue I will be very strong on in Albany.
"Jenny From the Block" by Jennifer Lopez (J-Lo)
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of New York scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2023, the New York State Legislature was in session from January 4 to June 21.
|
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2022, the New York State Legislature was in session from January 5 to June 4.
|
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2021, the New York State Legislature was in session from January 6 to June 10.
|
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate New York State Assembly District 38 |
Officeholder New York State Assembly District 38 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 19, 2020.
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "2016 General Election Candidate List," accessed October 11, 2016
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Election results, 2016," accessed December 23, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 New York State Board of Elections, "Filings received for the 2016 State/Local Primary," accessed August 29, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 New York State Board of Elections, "Election returns September 13, 2016," accessed November 6, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Michael Miller (D) |
New York State Assembly District 38 2021-Present |
Succeeded by - |
