24 Facts About Jumaane Williams

Jumaane D Williams is an American activist and politician who has served as the New York City Public Advocate since 2019.

Jumaane Williams served as Deputy Leader of the City Council and as chair of the Task Force on City Workforce Equity.

Jumaane Williams was elected New York City Public Advocate in the 2019 special election to complete the term of Letitia James, who resigned to become Attorney General of New York.

Jumaane Williams ran for governor in 2022, losing to incumbent governor Kathy Hochul in the Democratic primary.

Jumaane Williams's father was a footballer and cricketer before moving to the US to study medicine.

Jumaane Williams is an alumnus of Brooklyn Technical High School and Brooklyn College, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 2001 and a Master of Arts in urban policy and administration in 2005.

Jumaane Williams was elected after defeating incumbent Councilmember Kendall Stewart in the September 2009 Democratic primary by a margin of 12 points.

Jumaane Williams won the general election with an endorsement from the Working Families Party.

Jumaane Williams has been an outspoken opponent of the NYPD's approach to stop-and-frisk in New York City.

In July 2013, Jumaane Williams introduced "house party" legislation requiring parties with 40 or more people in attendance to register with the police.

Jumaane Williams wants event organizers who advertise on social media and those charging admission to pay fines.

Jumaane Williams has cited his religious beliefs as an influence on his views on issues such as gay marriage and abortion.

Jumaane Williams expressed opposition to gay marriage and abortion as recently as 2017, but has since altered his position on these issues.

Jumaane Williams resigned from office on March 19,2019 to become New York City Public Advocate.

In 2018, Jumaane Williams challenged incumbent lieutenant governor Kathy Hochul in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, running on a platform of anti-corruption, affordable housing, and criminal justice reform.

Jumaane Williams ran in the 2019 special election for New York City Public Advocate when Letitia James vacated her seat to become New York state attorney general.

Jumaane Williams was certified and sworn into office on March 19,2019.

In 2024, Jumaane Williams said he was against a proposed zoning change that would have eliminated parking mandates for new housing units.

On September 28,2021, Jumaane Williams announced the formation of an exploratory committee to seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2022.

On November 16,2021, Jumaane Williams formally announced his bid for governor.

Jumaane Williams finished second in the June 2022 Democratic primary, losing to Gov.

Jumaane Williams was a supporter of the Occupy Wall Street movement, and in September 2012 was assaulted by a member of the NYPD at an Occupy Wall Street event.

Jumaane Williams was arrested in 2018 for protesting the detention of immigrant-rights activist Ravi Ragbir after Ragbir was detained during one of his regular check-ins with ICE.

Jumaane Williams was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Tourette syndrome as a child and has advocated for people with those conditions.