Working Families Party goes for JGR over Ramos
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The Working Families Party endorsed State Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas over State Senator Jessica Ramos this week in the primary race for Senate District 13. Eagle file photos by Ryan Schwach
By Ryan Schwach
The Working Families Party is endorsing Jessica González-Rojas in her bid to unseat State Senator Jessica Ramos, who the WFP has previously supported.
The endorsement is another win for González-Rojas, who has already pulled in significant local and institutional support in her campaign for the higher chamber.
“Jessica González-Rojas is a beloved working families champion whose work already delivered the guarantee of universal school meals across the state,” said Ana Maria Archila and Jasmine Gripper, co-directors of the NYWFP. “During her time in Albany, Jessica González-Rojas has stood up for Immigrant New Yorkers, reproductive justice and been a tremendous advocate for raising revenue to fund social services. González-Rojas overwhelmingly won the NYWFP vote for State Senate District 13 because of her record and her unique ability to work collaboratively with electeds and movement partners to win campaigns that make life better for all New Yorkers.”
González-Rojas said she was “deeply honored” by the endorsement.
“This endorsement is about what we can accomplish together: standing up for immigrants, tenants, workers, and families who too often get left behind, and proving that progressive values and effective governing go hand in hand,” she said. “I’m running to bring people together, to listen, and to fight every day for a New York that works for all of us. I’m proud to be in this fight alongside the NYWFP and our grassroots coalition.”
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, City Comptroller Brad Lander, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and a number of fellow local electeds have already endorsed González-Rojas’ run for the Senate
WFP’s endorsement of González-Rojas is a major blow to Ramos, who has enjoyed support from the organization in the past.
Ramos was previously a perennial WFP candidate and was elected on their ballot line in 2018. She was initially left off of the party’s slate when they were endorsing in the mayoral primary earlier this year but added on after they caught heat for excluding her.
The reunion didn’t last long. The WFP rescinded their endorsement when Ramos all but dropped out of the race and endorsed former Governor Andrew Cuomo over now-Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, the WFP’s top choice in the race.
In a statement to Spectrum News, Ramos criticized the WFP for not speaking out against Mets owner Steve Cohen’s Metropolitan Park casino plan, which was greenlit by the state earlier this week.
Ramos was the only elected official who opposed Metropolitan Park, and declined to bring up legislation that would have helped it through.
“I respect the Working Families Party and our shared history,” she said. Choosing silence as a billionaire with a troubling record is approved to build a casino in our backyard, while endorsing against the only elected official who opposed it, is disappointing and makes them complicit.”
“Progressives cannot claim to stand with working people while tolerating concentrated power and the transfer of public land to the rich at the expense of working class immigrant communities,” she continued.
Ramos has yet to file for reelection, but told the Eagle last week she intends to. District Leader and former elected Hiram Monserrate is also running for the seat.
Monserrate, who was expelled from the legislature and who later served prison time on public corruption charges, is making another attempt to get back into elected office after running for different seats in the last several election cycles.
“I have the experience and proven record of delivering for our neighborhoods,” Monserrate said in a statement. “But it’s my commitment to this underserved and neglected community that gets me out of bed every day to advocate. Whatever the ultimate decision is, rest assured that we will continue to demand a better and safer community for all.”
