Mayor Mamdani is throwing his weight behind Claire Valdez, a present meeting member now working for the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Nydia Velázquez.
His assist of Valdez, which was anticipated, places him at odds with different progressive allies who’ve voiced assist for Antonio Reynoso, the present Brooklyn borough president who can be working for the seat.
“I’m proud to stand behind this vision and to stand behind Claire, because I need a partner like her in Washington to fight for a city that people can afford in a democracy that meets the needs of working people,” Mamdani stated on the Bushwick endorsement announcement.
Mamdani emphasised Valdez’s roots within the labor motion. Valdez, a former United Auto Employees organizer, additionally obtained the endorsement of the union on Friday.
Valdez, a relative political newcomer, was first elected to workplace in 2024. She was beforehand a labor organizer.
Reynoso, her opponent, has netted the assist of Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, an ally to Mamdani, and can be more likely to get the endorsement of Velázquez, the present rep for the district, which spans components of Brooklyn and Queens, together with the very progressive-leaning Williamsburg, Bushwick and Ridgewood.
Each Reynoso and Valdez function throughout the identical progressive flanks of the Democratic Celebration, and they’re aligned on key points like assist for Palestine and powerful assist for labor rights, though Valdez typically leans additional left.
If she have been elected to symbolize the district, Valdez would be part of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as one of many few democratic socialists within the Home.
Valdez’s marketing campaign shares an overlapping employees with the Mamdani marketing campaign, together with Mamdani advisor Morris Katz and former communications director Andrew Epstein.
Mamdani has now inserted himself into three congressional races, having backed former comptroller Brad Lander for NY-10 and dissuaded Councilmember Chi Osse from working a major problem in opposition to Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries.
Mamdani dodged when requested if he has considerations about taking part in an excessive amount of of a kingmaker so early on in his time period, as an alternative opting to reward Valdez.
“I am so excited about this endorsement, frankly, and what I see in Claire Valdez is a vision that we have seen missing for far too long in our politics, and I’m excited at the coalition that she’s building,” he stated.
