Queens State Sen. First To Rescind Endorsement Of Scott Stringer

ASTORIA, QUEENS — State Senator Jessica Ramos of Queens became the first public figure to rescind her mayoral endorsement of Scott Stringer after he was accused of sexual harassment on Tuesday morning.

Ramos’ announcement came after Jean Kim, a former Stringer campaign worker, came forward Tuesday with a detailed account of Stringer’s alleged sexual harassment — including repeated acts of unwanted kissing and groping — in a piece first reported in Gothamist, and a subsequent news conference in front of Stringer’s office.

“After hearing Ms. Kim’s account today, I am officially rescinding my endorsement of Scott Stringer for Mayor of New York City,” Tweeted Ramos on Tuesday evening.

“This kind of behavior is unacceptable in any workplace and those who have perpetrated such acts must be held accountable for their actions, not given bigger platforms,” she wrote on Twitter, adding that after the past year New Yorkers “need a leader who can rise to meet the moment and will not be distracted by scandals as our city continues to make its way towards recovery.”

In 2018, Ramos, who now represents District 13 in Queens including Jackson Heights, Corona, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, and parts of Astoria and Woodside, ran against — and ultimately defeated — incumbent State Senator José Peralta.

Her campaign, which was endorsed by a slate of progressive politicians and organizations, gained further credibility by Stringer’s endorsement.

At the time, Christina M. Greer, a political-science professor who is a McSilver Institute Fellow at New York University, told the New York Times that Stringer’s endorsement would likely help Ramos’ campaign efforts, but also benefit Stringer in his then-projected 2021 mayoral campaign.

“The 2021 election will be here before we know it and this is a way that Scott Stringer shores up some loyalty,” Professor Greer told the Times in March 2018, after he endorsed Ramos and Robert Jackson, who also won his State Senate bid.

“These candidates have their own bases in these communities, and the next mayoral race is going to be quite competitive and crowded,” she said, in an almost prescient comment, since up until recently both Jackson and Ramos endorsed Stringer’s 2021 mayoral bid despite competing campaigns from other progressive candidates, like Dianne Morales.

Many other female politicians have spoken out against Stringer in the day following his sexual assault allegations including State Senators Alessandra Biaggi, Julia Salazar and Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou — all of whom endorsed Stringer for mayor — who issued a statement in solidarity with survivors, but stopped short of rescinding their endorsements.

Morales, who was the first mayoral candidate to publicly weigh in on the allegations, also issued a statement in solidarity with Kim, and Kathryn Garcia and Maya Wiley, two other mayoral candidates, issued statements calling for him to drop out and account for his actions, respectively.

Stringer's campaign denied the accusations of sexual harassment in a statement to Gothamist before Kim's account was publicly published on Tuesday.

"I firmly believe that all survivors of harassment have the right to come forward," Stringer said in the statement. "I will reserve further comment until this person has had the opportunity to share their story. For now, let me say without equivocation: these allegations are untrue and do not reflect my interactions with anyone, including any woman or member of my staff."

On Tuesday afternoon, at his own news conference, Stringer denied Kim's allegations, saying that they had what he believed to be a "mutual, consensual relationship" that was "on and off" for "several months" around the time of his 2001 public advocate campaign.

"I never used any force, made any threats, or did any of the things that are alleged," he said.