Jose Peralta

Born in New York City on November 10, 1971, Peralta was a first-generation Dominican-American.{{cite web |title= State Senate: Jose Rafael Peralta (D), District 13 |publisher= Capitol Info |url= http://www.ny-leg.com/directory/NY/jose-peralta/2771/ |access-date= April 4, 2011}}{{cite news |title= Biography|work= Jose Peralta for State Senate |publisher= www.joseperalta.com |page= Bio |year= 2010 |url= http://www.joseperalta.com/bio2.html |access-date= 2010-03-03}} After immigrating to the United States from the Dominican Republic, Peralta's father was employed as a bank teller. His mother, Rose Hernandez,{{cite news |last= Toscano|first= John |title=Weiner Wins Key Transportation Panel Post; 1st Queens Hispanic Assembly Member sworn |work= The Queens Gazette |publisher= www.qgazette.com |date= February 5, 2003 |url= http://www.qgazette.com/news/2003-02-05/Political_Page/009.html |access-date= 2010-03-04}} worked as a seamstress. At the age of 8, Peralta moved with his family from Washington Heights, Manhattan to Queens. Peralta attended public elementary school in New York City and graduated from Flushing High School in 1989. He enrolled at Queens College, City University of New York and became the first Latino Student Body President at the college. Peralta graduated from Queens College in 1996, with a degree in psychology.{{cite news |title=State Assembly 39th District – Voters Guide |work= Newsday |page= G22 |date= November 3, 2002 |location=Long Island, New York, Queens edition}}{{cite news |title= Alumni Relations |work= QC Queens College |publisher= Queens College, City University of New York |year= 2009 |url= http://www.qc.cuny.edu/alumnirelations/Pages/default.aspx |access-date= 2010-03-04 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120805132137/http://www.qc.cuny.edu/alumnirelations/Pages/default.aspx |archive-date= 2012-08-05 }}

After graduating from Queens College, Peralta was a community liaison in the New York State Assembly.{{cite news |title=Biographies – Jose Peralta |work= Gotham Gazette |publisher= Citizens Union Foundation |year= 2002 |url= http://www.gothamgazette.com/eyeonalbany/assembly/district39.shtml |access-date= 2010-03-03}} Peralta represented the interests of immigrants on the New York City Central Labor Council,{{cite news |last= Virasami |first= Bryan |author2=Ron Howell |title=Putting Latinos, Asians On Map |work= Newsday |publisher= www.puertorico-herald.org |date = February 15, 2002 |url= http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/2002/vol6n10/PuttingLatinos-en.html |access-date= 2010-03-04}} serving in the position of Director of the Commission on the Dignity for Immigrants.

Peralta was a political staffer on campaigns in New York including Brian McLaughlin's campaign for New York State Assembly, Toby Stavisky's campaign for New York State Senate, Alan Hevesi election bid for New York City Comptroller and Hillary Clinton's campaign for United States Senate. Peralta was married to Evelyn, and had two sons, Myles and Matthew.{{cite news |last= Santos |first= Fernando |author2=Rebecca White |title= Monserrate and Peralta Hit the Polls in State Senate Race |work= The New York Times |page= City Room |date= March 16, 2010 |url= http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/monserrate-and-peralta-hit-the-polls-in-state-senate-race/ |access-date= 2010-03-16}}

In the November 5, 2002 election, Peralta won a seat in the New York State Assembly representing District 39. He ran as a Democrat and beat candidate Charles Gonzales, a Republican. Peralta received 76 percent of the votes cast.{{cite news |last= Murphy |first= William |title= Pataki Moving To Latin Beat |work= Newsday |page= A16 |date= January 3, 2003 |location= Long Island, New York, Queens edition}}{{cite news |last= Silvestre |first=Edmund M. |title= Gonzales loses bid for assembly |work= Filipino Reporter |date=November 14, 2002 }}{{cite news |last=Campo |first= Antonio C. |title= Piece of cake: Dream of Fil-Am political empowerment dies in Qns |work= Filipino Reporter |date= December 12, 2002}} He was the first Hispanic from Queens, New York to win an election to serve in the New York state Assembly.{{cite news |last= Ruiz |first= Albor |title= Dem club embracing its future |work= New York Daily News |publisher= www.nydailynews.com |date= January 23, 2005 |url= http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/ny_local/2005/01/23/2005-01-23_dem_club_embracing_its_future.html |access-date= 2010-03-04 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604144313/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/ny_local/2005/01/23/2005-01-23_dem_club_embracing_its_future.html |archive-date= June 4, 2011 }}{{cite news |last= Howell |first= Ron |title= Who Will Be the First Latino? – Three Assembly hopefuls vie to make history in Queens |work= Newsday|location= Long Island, New York, Queens edition |page= A29 |date= August 20, 2002}}{{cite news |last=Toscano |first= John |title= Eye on politics – DA Brown, Council Candidates Get Dem Nod|work= The Queens Gazette |publisher= www.qgazette.com |date= May 21, 2003 |url= http://www.qgazette.com/news/2003-05-21/Political_Page/Eye_on_politics.html |access-date= 2010-03-04}} The 39th Assembly District in New York was created in 2002 as a result of the significant increase in immigrant population in the region.{{cite news |last= Toscano |first= John |title= Onorato: GOP State Senate Changes Add Up To 'Real Reform Rejected' |work= The Queens Gazette |publisher= www.qgazette.com |date= February 2, 2005 |url= http://www.qgazette.com/news/2005-02-02/Political_Page/Onorato_GOP_State_Senate_Changes_Add_Up_To_Real_Re.html |access-date= 2010-03-04}} Peralta was sworn in as a member of the Assembly by Civil Court Judge Diccia Pineda, also of Dominican heritage. Peralta took the oath of office in Corona, New York at the New York Hall of Science. In attendance at Peralta's swearing-in ceremony were United States Senator Charles Schumer, Speaker of the New York State Assembly Sheldon Silver and Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin.

In March 2004, Peralta requested that state Republican leadership pass legislation which proposed to increase the state's minimum wage to $7.15 per hour.{{cite news |last=Woodberry Jr. |first= Warren |title= New York Assemblyman Pushes Republicans to Pass Minimum-Wage Hike |work= New York Daily News |publisher= Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News |date= March 18, 2004}} In April 2007, Peralta introduced anti-gang legislation in the Assembly that focused on creating Gang Free School Zones surrounding schools in New York.{{cite news |last= Toscano |first= John |title= Gang Menace In Schools Addressed By Peralta Bill |work= The Queens Gazette |publisher= www.qgazette.com |date= April 11, 2007 |url= http://www.qgazette.com/news/2007-04-11/features/009.html |access-date= 2010-03-04}} In June 2007, Peralta was among a majority of the Assembly that voted to support passage of a same-sex marriage bill in New York.{{cite news |title= Gay-Marriage Bill Passes, Fails, and Freaks Out a Bronx Dem |work= New York Magazine |publisher= www.nymag.com |date= June 20, 2007 |url= https://nymag.com/daily/intel/2007/06/gaymarriage_bill_passes_fails.html |access-date= 2010-03-04}} In January 2008, Peralta co-signed legislation with Sheldon Silver, Audrey Pheffer and Rory I. Lancman which put forth a proposal of $150 million in funding for families that had the possibility of their homes being foreclosed upon.{{cite news |last= Hampton |first= Matt |title= Politicians Attack Foreclosure Crisis |work= Queens Chronicle |date= January 10, 2008 |url= http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19186404&BRD=2731&PAG=461&dept_id=574903&rfi=6 |access-date= 2010-03-04 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Peralta worked with fellow Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry to change the Rockefeller drug laws. Peralta served in the Assembly as Chair of the Subcommittee on Banking in Underserved Communities. He worked to encourage banks to move into underserved regions through his Banking Development District legislation.

In October 2009, Peralta stated his intention to run for the New York State Senate for a seat representing District 13.{{cite news |last= Davis |first= Pete |title= A truly Special Election in Queens |work= The Queens Courier |publisher= Schneps Publications, Inc. |date= March 2, 2010 |url= http://www.queenscourier.com/articles/2010/03/02/news/top_stories/doc4b8d7d3508bbb006062396.txt |access-date= 2010-03-03 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716022338/http://www.queenscourier.com/articles/2010/03/02/news/top_stories/doc4b8d7d3508bbb006062396.txt |archive-date= July 16, 2011 }} The Queens Democratic Party lent support to Peralta in his campaign for the Senate seat. An article in The New York Times in October 2009 described Peralta as "one of the party’s rising stars".{{cite news |last= Confessore |first= Nicholas |title= Queens Party Is Expected to Dump Monserrate |work= The New York Times |date= October 28, 2009 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/nyregion/29hiram.html |access-date= 2010-03-03}} Politician Hiram Monserrate was expelled from the Senate on February 9, 2010 by a 53–8 vote of his former colleagues after being convicted of misdemeanor assault on his girlfriend Karla Giraldo. Peralta became a candidate for the March 16, 2010 special election to fill the Senate seat left vacant due to Monserrate's expulsion.

The Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers endorsed Peralta on February 26, 2010.{{cite news|last= Benjamin|first= Elizabeth|title= Department Of Questionable Timing|work= New York Daily News|publisher= www.nydailynews.com|date= February 26, 2010|url= http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/02/department-of-questionable-tim.html|access-date= 2010-03-03|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604135836/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/02/department-of-questionable-tim.html|archive-date= June 4, 2011}} Civil rights activist Al Sharpton endorsed Peralta in February 2010.{{cite news |last= Benjamin |first= Elizabeth |title= Odds and Ends |work= New York Daily News |publisher= www.nydailynews.com |date= February 25, 2010 |url= http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/02/news-of-the-day-690.html |access-date= 2010-03-03 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100301074148/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/02/news-of-the-day-690.html |archive-date= March 1, 2010 }} On March 2, 2010, Peralta received an endorsement from New York City Council member Julissa Ferreras.{{cite news |last= Benjamin |first= Elizabeth |title= Ferreras E-mails For Peralta |work= New York Daily News |publisher= www.nydailynews.com |date= March 2, 2010 |url= http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/03/ferreras-e-mails-for-peralta.html |access-date= 2010-03-03 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604135747/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/03/ferreras-e-mails-for-peralta.html |archive-date= June 4, 2011 }} Peralta received the endorsement of the Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA) due to his support for LGBT rights.{{cite news |last= Chang |first= Ailsa |author-link= Ailsa Chang |title= Religious Groups Endorse Monserrate |work= WNYC |publisher= www.wnyc.org |date=March 1, 2010 |url= http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/151009 |access-date= 2010-03-03}} Peralta also received endorsements from groups including the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women,{{cite news |title= Sears Out, Beltrani GOP Choice In Special Election; Peralta Support Swells |work= The Queens Gazette |publisher= www.qgazette.com |date= March 3, 2010 |url= http://www.qgazette.com/news/2010-03-03/Political_Page/Sears_Out_Beltrani_GOP_Choice_In_Special_Election_.html |access-date= 2010-03-04}} building services workers union the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) sector 32BJ{{cite news |last=Velte |first= Marcy L. |title= Same-sex marriage advocates gunning for Monserrate |work= Legislative Gazette |publisher= www.legislativegazette.com |date= March 1, 2010 |url= http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-c-2010-03-01-65771.113122_Samesex_marriage_advocates_gunning_for_Monserrate.html |access-date= 2010-03-03}} and Fight Back New York.{{cite news |last=Rovzar |first= Chris |title= Is Hiram Monserrate Just Running Against Gay People Now?|work= New York Magazine |publisher= www.nymag.com |date= March 4, 2010 |url= https://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/03/is_hiram_monserrate_just_runni.html |access-date= 2010-03-04}} On March 16, 2010, Peralta was elected to the New York State Senate. He was sworn in on March 17.{{cite news |last= Benjamin |first= Elizabeth |title= Sen. Peralta |work= Daily News |date= March 17, 2010 |url= http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/03/sen-peralta.html |access-date= March 17, 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101031154033/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/03/sen-peralta.html |archive-date= October 31, 2010 }}

In January 2017, Peralta joined the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), a group of Democratic senators that caucused with the Senate Republicans, allowing the Republicans to control the chamber.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2017/01/sources-jose-peralta-defects-to-idc-109028|title=Sen. Jose Peralta defects to IDC|access-date=23 November 2018}} After joining the majority coalition, he was named vice chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Telecommunications. Peralta received a $12,500 stipend (known as a "lulu") for his position as vice chair, although state law designates these stipends for committee chairs only.{{cite news |last=McKinley |first= Jesse |title= For Group of Breakaway Democrats in New York, It Pays to Be No. 2|work= New York Times |date= May 9, 2017 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/nyregion/new-york-independent-democratic-conference-republicans.html |access-date= May 12, 2017}} The Republican conference submitted falsified payroll information listing Peralta as committee chair so that he could receive the stipend, although the IDC argued that Peralta was legally entitled to the stipends for his position as vice chair.{{cite news |last=McKinley |first= Jesse |title= False Payroll Information Allows 3 State Senators to Collect Thousands|work= New York Times |date= May 11, 2017 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/11/nyregion/false-payroll-information-allows-3-state-senators-to-collect-thousands.html|access-date= May 12, 2017}}

In April 2018, Peralta and his IDC colleagues rejoined the Senate Democratic Conference.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/16/nyregion/idc-albany-cuomo-klein-democrats.html|title=As Session Resumes, a Democratic Truce in Albany Seems Uneasy|last=Wang|first=Vivian|date=April 16, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 16, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/politics-on-the-hudson/2018/04/16/after-seven-years-its-all-over-senate-independent-democratic-conference/521396002/|title=After seven years, it's all over for the Senate Independent Democratic Conference|first=Joseph |last=Spector|work=LoHud.com|date=April 16, 2018|access-date=April 18, 2018}}

In the September 2018 Democratic Party primary, Peralta was defeated by Jessica Ramos, a board member of the Jackson Heights Beautification Group.{{cite news |url=https://pix11.com/2018/09/13/jessica-ramos-beats-incumbent-sen-jose-peralta-in-jackson-heights/|title=Jessica Ramos beats incumbent Sen. Jose Peralta in Jackson Heights|work=Pix 11 News|author=Pix11News|date=September 13, 2018|access-date=September 13, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/13/nyregion/state-senate-election-results-idc-klein.html|title=Democratic Insurgents Topple 6 New York Senate Incumbents |author=Vivian Wang |work=The New York Times |date=September 13, 2018 |access-date=September 14, 2018}}{{cite web |title=New York State Unofficial Election Night Results |url=https://nyenr.elections.ny.gov/ |website=New York State Board of Elections |access-date=14 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120174014/https://nyenr.elections.ny.gov/ |archive-date=20 November 2018 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} Peralta's nine-point loss was attributed to long-simmering anger with the former members of the IDC. Due to New York State's electoral fusion laws allowing candidates to run on multiple ballot lines in an election, Peralta appeared in the November 6, 2018 general election as the third-party candidate for the Independence Party of New York, the Women's Equality Party and the Reform Party of New York State;{{cite news |last1=Silberstein |first1=Rachel |title=Not all of New York's defeated ex-IDC members have conceded |url=https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Not-all-defeated-ex-IDC-members-have-conceded-13241363.php |access-date=September 23, 2018 |work=Times Union |date=September 20, 2018}}{{Cite tweet |number=1040578831395028992 |user=sarbetter |title=Here's a corrected rundown of the party lines that former IDCers' who lost their Democratic primaries are still on: Klein: Ind Valesky: Ind; WEP Peralta: Ind; Reform; WEP Hamilton: Ind; WEP Alcantara: Ind Avella: Ind; WEP |author=Susan Arbetter |date=September 14, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2018/09/17/life-after-defeat-questions-remain-about-plans-for-democratic-primary-losers-614778|title=Life after defeat? Questions remain about plans for Democratic primary losers|first=Bill|last=Mahoney|publisher=Politico|date=September 17, 2018|access-date=September 23, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/campaigns-elections/defeated-idc-members-dont-concede.html|title=Defeated ex-IDC members have yet to concede|first=Rebecca C.|last=Lewis|publisher=City & State NY|date=September 14, 2018|access-date=September 23, 2018|archive-date=September 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918193955/https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/campaigns-elections/defeated-idc-members-dont-concede.html|url-status=dead}} however, Peralta conceded the race to Ramos and promised to support her campaign.{{Cite tweet |number=1040667412956409858 |user=CTLizB |title=@SenatorPeralta: "If we want to move New York forward, all Democrats must work together. In that spirit, I will be supporting Ms. Ramos in the general election, and I will assist her in whatever capacity to ensure a smooth transition." |author=Liz Benjamin |date=September 14, 2018|accessdate=September 23, 2018}}

• November 2002 general election, NYS Assembly, 39th AD{{cite web

|url= http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2002/general/2002_assem.pdf

|title= General Election Results, State Senate: November 5, 2002 |publisher= New York State Board of Elections |date= December 13, 2002

}}

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• November 2004 general election, NYS Assembly, 39th AD{{cite web

|url=http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2004/assembly04.pdf

|title=General Election Results, State Senate: November 2, 2004

|publisher=New York State Board of Elections

|date=December 6, 2004

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823020906/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2004/assembly04.pdf

|archive-date=August 23, 2012

}}

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• November 2006 general election, NYS Assembly, 39th AD{{cite web

|url=http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2006/general/2006_assem.pdf

|title=General Election Results, State Senate: November 7, 2006

|publisher=New York State Board of Elections

|date=December 14, 2006

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822221121/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2006/general/2006_assem.pdf

|archive-date=August 22, 2012

}}

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• November 2008 general election, NYS Assembly, 39th AD{{cite web

|url=http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2008/General/NYSAssembly08.pdf

|title=General Election Results, State Senate: November 4, 2008

|publisher=New York State Board of Elections

|date=December 4, 2008

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823001135/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2008/General/NYSAssembly08.pdf

|archive-date=August 23, 2012

}}

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• March 2010 special election, NYS Senate, 13th SD{{cite web |url= http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/Elections/2010/Special/13thSDResults.pdf |title= Special Election Results, 13th Senate District: March 16, 2010 |publisher= New York State Board of Elections |year= 2010 |access-date= July 24, 2012 |archive-date= August 23, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120823020436/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/Elections/2010/Special/13thSDResults.pdf |url-status= dead }}

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• November 2010 general election, NYS Senate, 13th SD{{cite web

|url=http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2010/general/2010SenateAmended01272011.pdf

|title=General Election Results, State Senate: November 2, 2010

|publisher=New York State Board of Elections

|date=December 13, 2010

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823020536/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2010/general/2010SenateAmended01272011.pdf

|archive-date=August 23, 2012

}}

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• November 2012 general election, NYS Senate, 13th SD{{cite web |url= http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2012/general/2012SenateAmended01272011.pdf |title= General Election Results, State Senate: November 8, 2012 |publisher= New York State Board of Elections |date= December 13, 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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• November 2014 general election, NYS Senate, 13th SD{{cite web |url= http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2014/general/2014SenateAmended01272011.pdf |title= General Election Results, State Senate: November 5, 2014 |publisher= New York State Board of Elections |date= December 13, 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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• November 2016 general election, NYS Senate, 13th SD{{cite web

|url= http://www.elections.ny.gov/2016ElectionResults.html

|title=2016 Election Results |format= PDF

|publisher= New York State Board of Elections |date= December 13, 2014

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• List of Queens College people

{{reflist|2}}

{{Wikiquote}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/jose-peralta New York State Senate: Jose Peralta]
• [http://www.joseperalta.net Jose Peralta, official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314055734/http://joseperalta.net/ |date=2016-03-14 }}
• [https://ballotpedia.org/Jose_Peralta Ballotpedia: Jose Peralta]
• {{C-SPAN|9267885}}

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{{succession box

|title=New York State Assembly, 39th District

|years=2003–2010

|before=Frank R. Seddio

|after=Francisco Moya

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{{s-bef|before=Hiram Monserrate}}

{{s-ttl|title=New York State Senate, 13th District|years=2010–2018}}

{{s-aft|after=Jessica Ramos}}

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{{succession box|title=Chairman of the Senate Committee on Consumer Protection|years=March 2010 – December 2010|before=Hiram Monserrate|after=Lee Zeldin}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Peralta, John}}

Category:1971 births

Category:2018 deaths

Category:Politicians from New York City

Category:Queens College, City University of New York alumni

Category:American politicians of Dominican Republic descent

Category:Democratic Party New York (state) state senators

Category:Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly

Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in New York (state)

Category:People from Washington Heights, Manhattan

Category:People from Jackson Heights, Queens

Category:Independent Democratic Conference

Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature