Monserrate runs again – this time, against his former staffer

Former lawmaker Hiram Monserrate is running for office again. This time, for the State Senate, where he once served and was kicked out of. AP file photo by Mike Groll

By Ryan Schwach

Former State Senator Hiram Monserrate, who was expelled from the legislature and who later served prison time on public corruption charges, filed this week to run for the seat he once held.

Monserrate has begun to explore a run for Senate District 13, which is currently held by State Senator Jessica Ramos, who once worked for her latest challenger.

Monserrate is not the first to file to challenge the incumbent. Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas launched a campaign for the seat in July, and has already picked up support from a number of local elected officials and community groups.

Ramos became vulnerable earlier this year when she dropped out of the race for mayor and backed former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary election, angering many progressives that she had previously worked with.

The incumbent has represented the 13th Senate District, which includes the neighborhoods of Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst and Corona, since 2019. Though she has yet to file her re-election bid, she told the Eagle on Friday that she intends to.

The Queens-born senator used to work for her Monserrate when he was in the City Council, but has since denounced her former boss, who has attempted to return to public office around a half dozen times since being released from prison in 2014.

“I don't know what new can be said about Hiram Monserrate from pointing to the baggage, and certainly the money that he stole while he served in government,” she told the Eagle. “I think since Hiram did time, Hiram paid his debt to society, he should have a second chance at a job in a different industry.”

That has not been a piece of advice Monserrate has taken to heart.

Monserrate, who is an elected district leader, attempted to run for his old City Council seat last year, but was kicked off the ballot due to a law that was explicitly passed to bar him from running for city office.

He has run for the City Council or Assembly every year since 2022.

“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.”

As a district leader, he has launched a public campaign to get the city and federal government to crack down on quality-of-life and prostitution issues along Roosevelt Avenue.

“Although we’ve had success in the last two years fighting against predatory gangs and rampant prostitution on Roosevelt Avenue, there is still much more work to be done,” he said. “As a result, several community stakeholders have again asked me to explore the possibility of running for state office.”

The González-Rojas campaign declined to comment on Monserrate jumping into the race, or on the prospect of Ramos officially filing for reelection.

The progressive assemblymember who is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America but is not endorsed by the group, announced her run earlier this year and quickly gained support from a slew of Queens leaders.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, City Comptroller Brad Lander, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and a number of fellow local electeds have already endorsed her run for the higher chamber.