When I was young, I didn’t dream of becoming a State Senator — I didn’t even know that was an option for someone like me. But I did know I wanted to help people. I knew what it felt like to grow up with uncertainty and fear. I knew I wanted a future where families like mine could feel safe and supported.

So when I stand in classrooms and talk to students about their dreams — whether they want to be a sanitation worker, a social worker, a doctor, or a dancer — I want them to know I see them.

I want them to know they belong. And more than anything, I want them to know they’ll be protected. That’s my job. And that’s what I’ll keep doing.

Because what we’re seeing in Los Angeles — Donald Trump calling in the National Guard to confront ICE protesters — is more than dangerous. It’s a warning.

And when U.S. Senator Alex Padilla is forcibly removed from a press conference for simply asking a question, it becomes clear: This isn’t just politics. It’s about power, and how far some will go to silence anyone who challenges it.

I’m committed to doing everything I can to protect our kids. To make sure no child ever feels like they don’t belong. That no student sits in a classroom wondering if their family is safe.

And that every New Yorker — no matter where they come from — knows they are seen, they are valued, and they will be defended.

Con amor,

Jessica Ramos