Jenifer Rajkumar kicks off campaign for New York City Comptroller

If elected, she would make history as the first South Asian and first woman of color Comptroller

By Arun Kumar

Indian American New York Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar has kicked off her campaign for New York City Comptroller. If elected she would make history as the first South Asian and first woman of color to be Comptroller.

A coalition of hundreds of supporters from all Five Boroughs of New York City gathered at The Palace in Woodside in Queens for the event on Wednesday night.

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“No one thought I would be standing here today,” said Rajkumar, 42, the first South Asian woman elected to New York State office in 2020, defeating an incumbent by the widest margin of any primary challenger. “But nothing can stop a determined South Asian woman.“

“For every New Yorker who has been underestimated and counted out, this campaign is for you,” she told a cheering “coalition of activists from diverse communities, religious leaders of all faiths, local business owners, women leaders, and New Yorkers from all walks of life—many of them immigrants who came to New York to achieve the American Dream, “according to a media release.

Among them were members of New York’s Indian, African American, Latino, Jewish, AAPI, Muslim, Dominican, Colombian, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Tibetan, Filipino, Caribbean, Pakistani, Sikh, and LGBTQ+ communities. The crowd reflected the overwhelming momentum for her people-powered campaign, which raised more than any other Comptroller candidate in the latest filing period, the release stated.

Rajkumar outlined her vision to wield the powers of Comptroller to address the most pressing issues facing New Yorkers promising to develop solutions to address the 9,000 people committing the majority of many crimes.

She also vowed to crack down on reckless e-bikes; close the gender wage gap; create a bridge to college for high school graduates; improve access to affordable housing; and safeguard $270 billion in pension fund assets for 700,000 current and retired City employees.

Rajkumar called for bold leadership and a culture of service to restore trust in City government. She highlighted her record of achievements in Albany, at every step accomplishing what detractors told her was impossible.

Rajkumar secured passage of the historic Diwali School Holiday bill, so that now and forever 600,000 New Yorkers can celebrate one of their most sacred days of the year without children missing school. This year, she passed the SMOKEOUT Act, empowering the City to close over 1,200 illegal smoke shops in a matter of months.

A Stanford Law and University of Pennsylvania educated lawyer, Rajkumar brings an unparalleled record of public service. Her leadership has ranged from fighting workplace discrimination for 5,000 women—a case recognized by the United Nations as one of the top ten in the world promoting women’s equality. according to the release

She served as New York’s first ever Director of Immigration Affairs, managing a $31 million project to provide legal services to immigrants. A champion of education, Rajkumar was a CUNY professor.

“I am ready to fight for the working people of New York City and remove the obstacles standing in the way of their dreams,” Rajkumar affirmed with a rallying cry: “Are you ready to make this truly the Greatest City in the World? Let’s win this together!”