# Shekar Krishnan > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Shekar_Krishnan > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Shekar_Krishnan.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shekar_Krishnan > Source revision: 1354235973 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American politician}} {{Self-published |date=October 2022}} {{use mdy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Shekar Krishnan | image = Shekar Krishnan.jpg | caption = Krishnan in 2015 | office = Member of the [New York City Council](/source/New_York_City_Council)
from the [25th](/source/New_York_City's_25th_City_Council_district) district | term_start = January 1, 2022 | term_end = | predecessor = [Daniel Dromm](/source/Daniel_Dromm) | successor = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|6|5}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | party = [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) | education = [Cooper Union](/source/Cooper_Union) ([BS](/source/Bachelor_of_Science))
[University of Michigan](/source/University_of_Michigan) ([JD](/source/Juris_Doctor)) | website = {{url|council.nyc.gov/district-25|Official website}}
{{url|voteshekar.com|Campaign website}} }} '''Shekar Krishnan''' (born June 5, 1985){{cite tweet |user=voteshekaar |number=1400460243188940812 |title=Come for the cupcakes, stay for the canvass! Come through this Saturday!}} is an American attorney and politician who is a member of the [New York City Council](/source/New_York_City_Council) for the [25th district](/source/New_York_City's_25th_City_Council_district), which covers the northwestern [Queens](/source/Queens) neighborhoods of [Jackson Heights](/source/Jackson_Heights%2C_Queens), [Elmhurst](/source/Elmhurst%2C_Queens), parts of [East Elmhurst](/source/East_Elmhurst%2C_Queens), and a small piece of [Woodside](/source/Woodside%2C_Queens).{{Cite web|url=https://council.nyc.gov/districts/|title=Council Members & Districts |publisher=New York City Council|access-date=June 25, 2021}} ==Early life== Krishnan was born to immigrant parents from [Kerala](/source/Kerala), [India](/source/India).{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/global/1002522/meet-lawyer-shekar-krishnan-who-hopes-to-be-among-the-first-south-asians-on-the-nyc-council|title=Meet lawyer Shekar Krishnan, who hopes to be among the first South Asians on the NYC council|date=October 29, 2021|access-date=November 8, 2021|last=Prakash|first=Priyali|website=[Scroll.in](/source/Scroll.in)}} He received a [Bachelor of Sciences](/source/Bachelor_of_Sciences) in engineering from [The Cooper Union](/source/The_Cooper_Union) and a [Juris Doctor](/source/Juris_Doctor) from the [University of Michigan Law School](/source/University_of_Michigan_Law_School).{{cite web|url=https://www.qgazette.com/articles/local-express-172/|title=Local Express: Shekar Krishnan|date=February 22, 2017|access-date=November 8, 2021|first=Nicollette|last=Barsamian|website=Queens Gazette}} ==Career== Krishnan worked as an associate for law firms [Weil, Gotshal & Manges](/source/Weil%2C_Gotshal_%26_Manges) and [Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler](/source/Patterson_Belknap_Webb_%26_Tyler).{{Cite web |date=2014 |title=New Staff at Brooklyn A: Help us welcome these great new additions to our team! |url=https://bka.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/BKA-Summer-Newsletter-2014.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917104851/https://bka.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/BKA-Summer-Newsletter-2014.pdf |archive-date=September 17, 2015 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |website=Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A}} He was also an attorney at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A, directing the organization’s [fair housing](/source/fair_housing) and tenant advocacy divisions. He is the co-founder of Communities Resist, a legal services organization that represents tenants and neighborhood coalitions in fair housing litigation and anti-displacement advocacy in [gentrified](/source/gentrified) neighborhoods.{{cite web|url=https://qns.com/2020/11/shekar-krishnan-announces-candidacy-for-western-queens-city-council-seat/|title=Shekar Krishnan announces candidacy for western Queens City Council seat |last=Parry|first=Bill|date=November 20, 2020|access-date=November 8, 2021|website=QNS.com}}{{cite web|url=https://nynmedia.com/content/meet-nonprofit-candidates-likely-join-new-yorks-city-council|title=Meet the nonprofit candidates likely to join New York's City Council|last=Ponce de Léon|first=Gabe|date=July 29, 2021|access-date=November 8, 2021|website=NYNMedia}} ===2021 City Council campaign=== [[File:NYC Councilmember Shekar Krishnan.jpg|thumb|Krishnan speaks at a [Channukah](/source/Channukah) event in December 2025.]] {{see also|2021 New York City Council election}} Krishnan announced his candidacy in the [2021](/source/2021_New_York_City_Council_election) Democratic primary for the [25th District](/source/New_York_City's_25th_City_Council_district) of the [New York City Council](/source/New_York_City_Council) on November 17, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://jacksonheightspost.com/podcast-we-talk-to-shekar-krishnan-candidate-for-the-25th-council-district|title=PODCAST: We Talk To Shekar Krishnan, Candidate For the 25th Council District|date=December 2, 2020|access-date=November 8, 2021|first=Michael|last=Dorgan|website=Jackson Heights Post}} Incumbent Councilmember [Daniel Dromm](/source/Daniel_Dromm) was [term-limited](/source/term-limited) and could not run for reelection. He was endorsed by Dromm, [U.S. Representative](/source/U.S._Representative) [Nydia Velazquez](/source/Nydia_Velazquez), and [State Senators](/source/New_York_State_Senate) [Julia Salazar](/source/Julia_Salazar) and [John Liu](/source/John_Liu).{{cite web|url=https://jacksonheightspost.com/council-member-daniel-dromm-endorses-shekar-krishnan-for-district-25-seat|title=Council Member Daniel Dromm Endorses Shekar Krishnan for District 25 Seat|date=June 8, 2021|access-date=November 8, 2021|last=Griffin|first=Allie|website=Jackson Heights Post}} He centered his campaign on immigrant rights, the [taxi medallion](/source/taxi_medallion) crisis, [affordable housing](/source/affordable_housing), and [climate justice](/source/climate_justice).{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/nyc-council-5-new-asian-americans-mirroring-city-accurately-rcna4412|title=NYC Council has 5 new Asian Americans, a record that mirrors city more accurately|date=November 3, 2021|access-date=November 8, 2021|last=Wang|first=Claire|website=[NBC News](/source/NBC_News)}} Krishnan won the [ranked-choice](/source/Instant-runoff_voting) primary with 53.4% of all votes cast.{{cite web|url=https://sunnysidepost.com/shekar-krishnan-likely-to-win-primary-for-jackson-heights-elmhurst-council-seat|title=Shekar Krishnan Likely to Win Primary for Jackson Heights/Elmhurst Council Seat|last1=Songalia|first1=Ryan|last2=Murray|first2=Christian|date=June 22, 2021|access-date=November 8, 2021|website=Sunnyside Post}} He won the general election with 60% of the vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/say-hello-to-your-new-city-leaders/article_f6b70b03-9185-5a99-9689-692271e38139.html|title=Say hello to your new city leaders|last=Donlevy|first=Katherine|date=November 4, 2021|access-date=November 8, 2021|website=[Queens Chronicle](/source/Queens_Chronicle)}} Along with [Shahana Hanif](/source/Shahana_Hanif), Krishnan is one of the first [South Asians](/source/South_Asians) to serve in the [New York City Council](/source/New_York_City_Council).{{cite web|url=https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2021/11/03/shekar-krishnan-shahana-hanif-make-history-winning-new-york-city-council-races-447607/|title=Shekar Krishnan, Shahana Hanif make history winning New York City council races|date=November 3, 2021|access-date=November 8, 2021|last=Kumar|first=Arun|website=American Bazaar}} Days after being elected, Krishnan was arrested along with Hanif and [Assemblymember](/source/New_York_State_Assembly) [Zohran Mamdani](/source/Zohran_Mamdani) for protesting alongside [taxi drivers](/source/taxi_drivers).{{cite web|url=https://gothamist.com/news/wins-nyc-council-seats-taxi-debt-relief-deal-showcase-political-might-south-asians|title=Wins For NYC Council Seats & Taxi Debt Relief Deal Showcase Political Might Of South Asians|date=November 6, 2021|access-date=November 8, 2021|last=Venugopal|first=Verun|website=[Gothamist](/source/Gothamist)}} ====Electoral history==== {{Election box ranked choice begin | title = 2021 New York City Council District 25 Democratic primary results{{cite web|url=https://vote.nyc/sites/default/files/pdf/election_results/2021/20210622Primary%20Election/rcv/024310_1.html|title=DEM Council Member 25th Council District|website=Vote NYC|publisher=New York City Board of Elections|date=July 20, 2021|access-date=July 23, 2021}}}} {{Election box ranked choice winning candidate with party link | party = Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Shekar Krishnan | maxround=7 | maxvotes=6352 | maxvotespercent=53.4 | r1votes=3915 | fullwidthvotes=10000 }} {{Election box ranked choice candidate with party link | party = Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Yi Chen | maxround=7 | maxvotes=5549 | maxvotespercent=46.6 | r1votes=4014 | fullwidthvotes=10000 }} {{Election box ranked choice candidate with party link | party = Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Carolyn Tran | maxround=6 | maxvotes=3045 | maxvotespercent=23.6 | r1votes=2304 | fullwidthvotes=10000 }} {{Election box ranked choice candidate with party link | party = Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Alfonso Quiroz | maxround=5 | maxvotes=1986 | maxvotespercent=14.5 | r1votes=1358 | fullwidthvotes=10000 }} {{Election box ranked choice candidate with party link | party = Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Fatima Baryab | maxround=4 | maxvotes=1687 | maxvotespercent=11.8 | r1votes=1541 | fullwidthvotes=10000 }} {{Election box ranked choice candidate with party link | party = Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Liliana Melo | maxround=3 | maxvotes=1041 | maxvotespercent=7.1 | r1votes=942 | fullwidthvotes=10000 }} {{Election box ranked choice candidate with party link | party = Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Manuel Perez | maxround=2 | maxvotes=513 | maxvotespercent=3.4 | r1votes=512 | fullwidthvotes=10000 }} {{Election box ranked choice candidate with party link | party = Democratic Party (US) | candidate = William Salgado | maxround=2 | maxvotes=282 | maxvotespercent=1.9 | r1votes=281 | fullwidthvotes=10000 }} {{Election box ranked choice candidate with party link | party = Write-in | candidate = | maxround=1 | maxvotes=35 | maxvotespercent=0.2 | r1votes=35 | fullwidthvotes=10000 }} {{Election box ranked choice end}} === On City Council === Krishnan introduced a bill to decriminalize [street vending](/source/Hawker_(trade)) without a license.{{Cite web |last=Chu |first=Haidee |date=2025-07-31 |title=Adams Vetoes Bill to Decriminalize Street Vending |url=https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/07/31/vendor-beto-eric-adams-city-council-criminal-enforcement/ |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=THE CITY - NYC News |language=en-US}} The City Council overrode a mayoral veto to approve the bill in September 2025.{{Cite web |last=Aponte |first=Haidee Chu, Claudia Irizarry |date=2025-09-10 |title=Council Overrides Mayoral Veto of Street Vendor and Delivery Worker Protection Bills |url=https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/09/10/council-veto-override-street-vendor-instacart/ |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=THE CITY - NYC News |language=en-US}} Krishnan endorsed [Zohran Mamdani](/source/Zohran_Mamdani) in the [2025 mayoral general election](/source/2025_NYC_mayoral_election).{{Cite web |last=City |first=Bernadette Hogan New York |title=Mamdani nets two more City Council endorsements |url=https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2025/07/11/mamdani-nets-two-more-city-council-endorsements |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=ny1.com |language=en}} In early 2026, Krishnan voted for a bill regulating protest near religious institutions,{{Cite web |title=The New York City Council - File #: Int 0001-2026 |url=https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7861343&GUID=AF5DC0C4-C2EB-4C5D-861F-5B62DF8EA6EF&Options=&Search= |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=legistar.council.nyc.gov}} but against a related bill (Intro 175-B) that would create a "buffer zone" limiting protest near educational institutions.{{Cite web |title=The New York City Council - File #: Int 0175-2026 |url=https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7861546&GUID=726744DC-06CC-4D1F-9BBB-DB78552E7AA5&Options=&Search= |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=legistar.council.nyc.gov}} The City Council passed 175-B, but Mayor Mamdani vetoed it.{{Cite web |last=Sommerfeldt |first=Chris |last2=Reisman |first2=Nick |last3=Fernandez |first3=Madison |last4=Beeferman |first4= |date=2026-04-30 |title=To override or not to override, that's the question for Julie Menin |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2026/04/30/to-override-or-not-to-override-thats-the-question-for-julie-menin-00899443 |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=POLITICO |language=en}} ==See also== * [Indian Americans in New York City](/source/Indians_in_the_New_York_City_metropolitan_area) ==References== {{reflist|2}} {{New York City Council}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Krishnan, Shekar}} Category:1985 births Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians Category:American politicians of Indian descent Category:Asian-American New York City Council members Category:Asian-American people in New York (state) politics Category:Cooper Union alumni Category:Living people Category:New York (state) Democrats Category:Politicians from Queens, New York Category:University of Michigan Law School alumni Category:American people of Malayali descent --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Shekar Krishnan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shekar_Krishnan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shekar_Krishnan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.