Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders joined Mayor Mamdani at Mount Sinai West Hospital on Jan. 20, 2026, to assist NYC nurses on strike.
Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed Meeting Member Claire Valdez on Thursday within the Democratic main for New York’s seventh Congressional District, giving Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s most popular candidate a significant increase within the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez.
The endorsement places Sanders, one of many largest champions of democratic socialism in American politics, squarely on Valdez’s facet in a contest that has turn into a take a look at of town’s left flank after Velázquez’s retirement. Velázquez has backed Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso as her most popular successor, whereas Mamdani endorsed Valdez inside a day of her launch.
Valdez already has backing from the United Auto Staff and the New York Metropolis chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, of which she is a member. She has additionally benefited from her partnership with Mamdani, who not solely endorsed her early but additionally publicly appeared along with her, issued a joint video fundraising name, and lent her his closest political advisers, as reported by Metropolis & State.
Within the race to signify the closely progressive district spanning western Queens and north Brooklyn, Reynoso has lined up assist from Velázquez, Rep. Pat Ryan, Rep. Jerry Nadler, Legal professional Basic Letitia James, the Working Households Social gathering, Make the Street Motion, Citizen Motion of New York, and the Resort and Gaming Trades Council.
Sanders backed Reynoso in his first run for Brooklyn borough president in 2021. Reynoso’s marketing campaign declined to touch upon Thursday’s endorsement of Valdez.
Meeting Member Claire Valdez already has backing from the United Auto Staff and the New York Metropolis chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, of which she is a member.Photograph through through Instagram/@claireforqueens
In a press release launched by the Valdez marketing campaign, Sanders stated she “has the experience and vision we need to take on the oligarchy and fight for unions, Medicare for All, and affordable housing.”
“In my view, Congress needs more voices who come from America’s working class. I’m proud to endorse her campaign for Congress,” the assertion learn.
In response to the endorsement, Valdez, a former union organizer with UAW Native 2110, stated Sanders was formative to her foray into politics.
“Three things made me a democratic socialist: low-wage jobs, the labor movement, and Bernie Sanders’ runs for president,” Valdez stated in a press release. “His political revolution changed my life — and showed millions of Americans what’s possible when working people organize.”
The endorsement deepens Sanders’ political alignment with Mamdani. Sanders endorsed Mamdani in final yr’s mayoral race, swore him in at his inauguration, and has since appeared with him at labor occasions, together with rallies with putting nurses and Starbucks employees.
The Vermont senator additionally headlined a “Tax the Rich” rally within the Bronx final weekend, although Mamdani didn’t attend as he presses Albany to lift taxes on the rich this funds season.
Valdez has constructed her marketing campaign round that very same working-class message. Since getting into the race in January, she has solid herself as a labor organizer whose expertise in low-wage jobs and union campaigns issues greater than time in elected workplace. She has made the PRO Act, Medicare for All, reasonably priced housing, abolishing ICE and taxing the wealthy central elements of her marketing campaign.
Her marketing campaign stated Thursday that it raised $750,000 from greater than 11,200 donors in its first FEC reporting interval, with a median contribution of about $53.73 and no company PAC cash – official figures haven’t but been revealed by the FEC.
