Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the United Auto Staff (UAW) have endorsed Meeting Member Claire Valdez within the race to interchange U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez in New York’s seventh Congressional District, together with components of Western Queens and North Brooklyn.
Mamdani appeared alongside Valdez at a marketing campaign occasion at Bushwick’s Maria Hernandez Park on Friday afternoon to endorse her within the race, someday after Valdez formally launched her run to interchange Velázquez, who introduced late final yr that she wouldn’t be in search of re-election after 16 phrases in workplace.
Valdez, a member of the New York Metropolis chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) who has represented the thirty seventh Meeting District since early 2025, introduced her marketing campaign to run for Congress early Thursday morning. Mamdani, who was reportedly extremely influential in encouraging Valdez to run for Velázquez’s soon-to-be-vacant seat, described Valdez as somebody who will “stand with workers at every single opportunity.”
The Mayor additionally famous that Valdez was the one elected official to seem on the launch occasion of his mayoral marketing campaign in October 2024.
“Standing with me then took courage,” Mamdani mentioned. “It took belief that people who do an honest day’s work deserve to come home and stay in their home.”
Valdez additionally picked up an endorsement from UAW at Friday’s occasion, with union President Shawn Fain describing Valdez’s marketing campaign as a “remedy” for the way working-class voters can “fight back” in opposition to company pursuits.
Fain pointed to Valdez’s roots organizing with UAW Native 2110 whereas she labored at Columbia College, describing Valdez as somebody who stands as much as the “toughest bosses” within the metropolis.
A DSA candidate had lengthy been anticipated to enter the race to interchange Velázquez in NY-7 previous to Valdez’s Jan. 8 announcement, with each Valdez and Astoria Council Member Tiffany Cabán each reportedly expressing curiosity in operating for a district that broke for Mamdani by over 51% final yr.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso has additionally launched a marketing campaign to interchange Velázquez, selecting up a slate of endorsements within the Metropolis Council when he introduced his candidacy firstly of December.
On Friday, Valdez mentioned she hoped to “take on the bosses” and “take on corporate interests” all through her marketing campaign, pointing to “housing for all, Medicare for all and union for all” as three central elements of her run for Congress.
Valdez speaks at Friday’s occasion. Picture by Shane O’Brien.
She additionally spoke of a necessity for New York to be “stronger” in opposition to ICE and the Trump Administration, accusing the federal authorities of “kidnapping neighbors for far too long.”
“We have to stand up against the fascist administration,” Valdez mentioned. “We need fighters in Washington to stand up against them.”
She additionally vowed to battle to abolish ICE if she is elected to Congress.
“ICE should be abolished. It serves no purpose besides terrorizing our communities,” she mentioned.
Individually, she described becoming a member of UAW Native 2110 as a second that “transformed” her life and vowed to battle to make it simpler for employees to hitch unions throughout the nation.
“The very basics that every worker deserves are won by organizing for unions that are fought for at the bargaining table and fought for at the picket line every single day in the United States,” Valdez mentioned. “But far too few workers are given the ability to join those unions.”
Valdez and Reynoso share plenty of ideological similarities; each are distinguished labor organizers and each have described Israel’s actions in Palestine as a “genocide.” Valdez, nevertheless, mentioned she was bringing her expertise as a member of UAW Native 2110’s bargaining committee to her run for Congress.
“I’m bringing the deep belief in a strong and vibrant labor movement and that being the basis of what grows political power,” Valdez mentioned.
Fain, in the meantime, mentioned Valdez’s relative lack of expertise in politics mustn’t depend in opposition to her within the race. The Queens Meeting Member has held elected workplace for roughly a yr, whereas Reynoso’s profession in metropolis politics spans greater than a decade, together with a stint within the Metropolis Council and a time period as Brooklyn borough president.
Fain, nevertheless, mentioned there are a selection of elected officers in Congress with a long time of expertise however a poor observe file of passing laws that aids working-class communities.
UAW President Shawn Fain additionally spoke on the occasion. Picture by Shane O’Brien.
“What has the experience of millionaires and billionaires on Capitol Hill done for working-class people? Has it made our health care and housing affordable? Have our wages gotten better? Hell no,” Fain mentioned.
Launching her marketing campaign on Thursday, Valdez mentioned there was little query that Democrats would win a majority within the seventh Congressional District however mentioned questions stay over what they “do with it.”
“We need a labor organizer in Washington who will turn Democratic power into a real opposition—one that confronts oligarchy and fascism, opposes genocide and war, and offers a real economic agenda that empowers working people and expands social rights,” Valdez mentioned in a press release asserting her run for Congress.
Mamdani, in the meantime, mentioned he wanted a “partner” like Valdez in Washington, including that the Queens Meeting Member would lead the battle for a “city people can afford.”
“Our city needs someone with her organizing instincts and moral clarity to fight for a future where everyone can live with dignity,” Mamdani mentioned.
Mamdani and Valdez embrace on the occasion. Picture by Shane O’Brien.
Reynoso informed the New York Occasions when he launched his marketing campaign in early December that he was operating for workplace to curb the specter of federal immigration enforcement and to “decorporatize” the Democratic Celebration. Reynoso, who represented the thirty fourth Council District in Brooklyn between 2014 and 2021, additionally signaled his intentions to push the occasion to the left. As Brooklyn Borough President, he has largely targeted on equitable growth and public well being.
Reynoso, a progressive member of the Democratic Celebration, is now set for a showdown with Valdez, who represents a farther-left part of the occasion strengthened by Mamdani’s victory final yr. The DSA, emboldened by Mamdani’s victory, has endorsed candidates in a variety of races in Western Queens following Mamdani’s success. Though the occasion has not but endorsed within the NY-7 race, it’s extensively anticipated to decide on Valdez, a staunch Mamdani ally who’s ideologically aligned with the DSA.
Valdez mentioned she has held conversations with Velázquez for the reason that veteran lawmaker introduced her retirement final November, including that she has the “world of respect” for Velázquez’s time period in workplace.
“She’s a true champion for working-class people and stands head and shoulders above so many of her colleagues,” Valdez mentioned. “I’d be proud to stand in her shoes and carry on her legacy.”
She touted Velázquez’s “moral courage” all through her profession in politics, pointing to her efforts to face up for Puerto Rican self-determination and taking “difficult positions” in anti-colonial struggles.
Velázquez has but to endorse within the race, however a number of shops have reported that she is anticipated to endorse Reynoso. Velázquez’s workplace didn’t return a request for remark.
