New York State Senator representing the 13th district in Queens, covering Corona, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights. Daughter of Colombian immigrants, born in Elmhurst and raised in Astoria. Ran for NYC mayor in 2025 Democratic primary. Helped raise the minimum wage and secure relief funds for excluded workers.
JR
Serving
About
Family & Heritage
Daughter of Colombian immigrants. Born at Elmhurst Hospital and raised in Astoria, Queens. Her mother crossed the Mexican border alone at age 24 as an undocumented seamstress, and her father, a printing pressman, was arrested in a workplace immigration raid in the early 1980s and spent days in a detention center. Jessica was the first American-born member of her family, giving her a deep sense of responsibility in bridging immigrant and non-immigrant communities.
Political Career
Before Politics
Elected President of the NYC Colombian Liberal Youth Council in 2002. Elected President of the NYC Colombian Liberal Party in 2005. Served as Director of Latino Media for the City of New York, acting as the city's chief Latina spokesperson keeping 1.87 million Spanish-speaking residents informed about government services. Attended Hofstra University studying International Business.
Education
Hofstra University, International Business; Queens public schools
Key Issues & Priorities
Workers' rights and labor protections
Immigrant rights and protections
Raising the minimum wage
Securing relief funds for excluded workers
Food justice and street vendor rights