NYC Mayoral Candidate Ramos Faces Scrutiny Over Defaulted Student Loans
State Senator's $80K in unpaid education debt raises questions about fiscal management
New York State Senator Jessica Ramos, currently running for mayor of New York City, is facing scrutiny over approximately $80,000 in defaulted student loans. Court filings from 2019 show Ramos defaulted on two separate loans totaling $78,307.46, with her mother listed as a co-plaintiff. The financial issues have emerged as Ramos campaigns to oversee the city's $112 billion budget.
Ramos, 39, has addressed the situation by connecting her personal financial challenges to broader economic issues. The first-generation daughter of Hispanic immigrants who attended Hofstra University stated she faced "the impossible choice between financial survival and student-loan payments" and prioritized supporting her family. Her campaign has raised over $232,000 in private funds but has yet to qualify for public matching funds for the June Democratic primary.
KEY POINTS
- •Ramos defaulted on $80K in loans
- •Critics question fiscal management
- •Student loan collections resuming May 5
The revelation has drawn criticism from some within her own party. Former Brooklyn Democratic Party leader Frank Seddio, who supports Andrew Cuomo for mayor, questioned Ramos's ability to manage the city's finances given her personal debt situation. Polling currently shows Ramos with single-digit support in the Democratic primary scheduled for June 24.
The timing coincides with broader developments in federal student loan policy. The U.S. Department of Education recently announced it will resume collections on student loan debt beginning May 5, affecting approximately 5.3 million borrowers in default. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that "American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies" and criticized former President Biden's debt cancellation efforts.
Ramos currently serves as chairwoman of the state Senate's Labor Committee and previously worked as an aide to former Mayor Bill de Blasio. During a recent editorial board meeting with the New York Post, she acknowledged her student debt situation, stating, "I'm part of the generation that is saddled with student debt. That is my reality."