New York State Assemblywoman, Jenifer Rajkumar, the first South Asian American woman elected to a New York State Office, officially launched her campaign for New York City Comptroller on August 12, 2024.
“The New Yorkers that inspire me are the strivers, all of us have created something out of nothing,” she said in a campaign video adding, “As your Comptroller, I’ll use my experience and perseverance to make New York affordable for everyone. I live for this. I’m in it for the New Yorkers who toil 25 hours a day, eight days a week, and can’t afford lifesaving health care or quality education.”
Rajkumar underscored that every win she has had until now, “has been against all odds.”
Pointing out that “Government inefficiency costs lives,” she asserted, “As Comptroller, I’m going to stand up for the people of this city.” Rajkumar vowed she will ensure every tax dollar directly benefits the taxpayers.
“I’m in it to fix this, we can stand together as New Yorkers with our guts, grit, and resilience. Together, we can make government work,” affirmed Rajkumar, a daughter of Indian immigrants, expressing her parents came to New York with “only $300 and one suitcase.”
While highlighting her accomplishments, Rajkumar stressed that as a lawyer, she took on Big Pharma companies to save millions of taxpayer money; as a professor at CUNY, she empowered her students; and as an Assemblywoman, she fought for her constituents and the city.
“We need results,” Rajkumar emphasized citing her track record of achieving results including protecting domestic workers, closing illegal smoke shops as an author of the SMOKEOUT Act, and showing all New Yorkers matter by making Diwali a school holiday.
Rajkumar, “a champion in fighting hate crimes,” in New York and has encouraged communities to fight against hate crimes aimed at Jewish, Sikh, and Hindu communities.
Rajkumar holds degrees from both Stanford Law School and the University of Pennsylvania.
