Velázquez endorses against DSA slate in Queens

Retiring Representative Nydia Velázquez made several political endorsements on Thursday, spurning the socialist ticket in Queens. AP file photo by Jacquelyn Martin

By Ryan Schwach

Retiring Representative Nydia Velázquez announced a trio of local endorsements on Thursday, largely spurning the wave of Democratic Socialist candidates seeking to capitalize on Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral win.

Velázquez, who has represented Queens and Brooklyn for three decades, threw her support behind Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso for the seat she is vacating, organizer Rana Abdelhamid in Mamdani’s 36th District and Brian Romero in his race for the 34th District.

The endorsements are a major split from Mamdani and the DSA, who have backed Claire Valdez in NY7, Diana Moreno in AD36 and Aber Kawas in AD34.

“[Reynoso] is a homegrown progressive leader ready to carry our fight forward,” Velázquez said in a statement. “Antonio understands the struggles of working families because he has lived them, and he has delivered real change for our communities. He will take on Trump unapologetically, stand against inequality and injustice, and fight to abolish ICE. He will stand up for Puerto Rico, our people, and our right to self-determination, while championing Latino communities nationwide.”

Reynoso said the endorsement was an “honor of a lifetime.”

In endorsing Reynoso, Velázquez picked her preferred successor. In doing so, she split from Mamdani, who she helped get elected mayor.

Mamdani supports fellow Queens DSA colleague Valdez, who launched her campaign last week and is expected to get the DSA’s support. The race is being looked at as a fight between progressives and the growing socialist movement in New York City.

In a comment to the New York Times, Velázquez criticized Valdez, who is originally from Texas, for not understanding the complexities of the district she is running for.

“It’s very nice to get to New York for a few years and to have opinions about other elected officials without knowing the history and the struggle and who was there fighting corrupt government," Velázquez said.

In a statement of her own, Valdez said she has the “utmost respect” for Velázquez, and congratulated Reynoso.

“I’m a working class Latina running for Congress to bring my experience as a union organizer, my unwavering opposition to genocide in Palestine, and my commitment to challenging a Democratic establishment that protects power and wealth instead of confronting it,” she said. “I look forward to a respectful and energetic primary."

Besides Velázquez, Reynoso also recently got the backing of Make the Road Action New York, an immigrant nonprofit.

Also on Thursday, Velázquez threw her support behind Abdelhamid, who is running to succeed Mamdani in the Assembly.

“Rana Abdelhamid represents the best of Queens: deeply rooted, community-driven, and

unapologetic about fighting for immigrants and working-class families,” said Velázquez.

The Astoria-born organizer also received support from overlapping Councilmember Julie Won on Thursday.

Abdelhamid's fiercest opponent for AD36 is Moreno, who is running with the support of the DSA, the Working Families Party, the Queens Democratic Party and Mamdani, all but guaranteeing her the victory in the February special election.

She also recently secured support from the United Auto Workers, the United Federation of Teachers and the Communication Workers of America.

The race for Mamdani’s seat dwindled to three candidates this week. Educator Shivani Dhir told the Eagle she will not be running in February's special election, but will try again in June’s Democratic primary.

Organizer Mary Jobaida remains in the race.

Velázquez also dolled out another endorsement in Western Queens’ third open race, backing Romero to succeed his former boss Jessica González-Rojas in the Assembly.

Romero received La Luchadora’s support and the backing of the Working Families Party on Thursday, as well as progressive groups Citizen Action of New York and Churches United for Fair Housing.

“As a proud Colombian from Queens, this endorsement means the world to me,” Romero said of Velázquez’s support.

Romero is running against DSA-backed Kawas, who also has the support of Desis Rising Up and Moving and the Muslim Democratic Club of New York.

“I look forward to continuing that legacy by fighting to keep ICE out of our communities, passing New York for All, and building power and representation for immigrants across the city,” she said