Romero is headed to Albany without DSA’s endorsement – but he still plans to work with the group

Future Assemblymember Brian Romero is preparing to take office next year. Eagle photo by Noah Powelson

By Ryan Schwach

Soon-to-be Assemblymember Brian Romero is preparing to take office next year after winning the Democratic nomination in a unique situation: he was endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, but not the political organization that helped send the mayor to City Hall.

Romero, a lifelong Queens resident with a background in both organizing and working as a political staffer, is the only candidate in Queens who was endorsed by Mamdani but not by the Democratic Socialists of America.

He is a member of the progressive organization, and applied for the endorsement but didn’t get it. He chalked up the rejection to “outside influence.”

But, in an interview with the Eagle, Romero said the lack of DSA endorsement won’t make much of a difference in how he intends to govern. He said he still plans to join the DSA’s “Socialists in Office” group in the future.

“I very much will be governing like a democratic socialist,” he said. “That is regardless of any kind of endorsement or not, and I look forward to working with the DSA’s Socialists in Office to work on that agenda.”

“It's very much an agenda that got Zohran elected and that everybody wants to see accomplished,” he added.

The DSA’s Socialists in Office group – or SIO – includes elected officials endorsed by the organization that continue to work closely with the DSA once taking office. In Queens, SIOs include State Senators Julia Salazar and Kristen Gonzalez, Assemblymembers Claire Valdez and Diana Moreno, and Councilmember Tiffany Cabán. Come next year, that group will likely also include Samantha Kattan and David Orkin in the Assembly, and Aber Kawas in the State Senate.

Romero has not ruled out attempting to join the group.

“I've made that clear to a number of member leaders who've reached out asking, I am very much open to that and to a space and a forum to decide if that makes sense for the members,” he said. “It's also okay to give it some time to show people how I organize in the legislature, how I vote, what are the things that I fight for, how do I fight for them, and how do I work with the Socialists in Office to advance our mutual goals.”

“It doesn't have to all happen right now,” he added. “I'm just excited to get to work with my soon-to-be new colleagues and do the work, which is really what people want us to do.”

Romero won his primary race overwhelmingly in June, defeating Hiram Monserrate-ally Rosa Sanchez by 34 percentage points. He has no opponent in the November general election.

With his victory, Romero will succeed his former boss, Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, who won her primary for the State Senate. He takes the reins from JGR in representing the 34th Assembly District, which includes parts of Astoria, Corona, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Woodside.

Since his victory, Romero has already met with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and is working to build on relationships he made while working as the chief of staff for JGR and Gonzalez.

“It feels like it's just the continuation of the work that I've done for the last almost six years now in the state legislature,” he said. “I know how the chamber works. I know the process.”

His priority will be helping other progressives fight for Mamdani’s affordability agenda in Albany.

“When I knock on doors across the district, our major issues are making Queens more affordable, whether that's social housing or universal childcare,” he said.

Romero’s district has a unique challenge for a representative – its intense diversity has made it a primary target for the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement.

“The real thing is that ICE is very much in our neighborhoods,” he said. “The 34th Assembly District really has to deal with this on a daily basis, certainly in Corona and Jackson Heights.”

The future lawmaker is a supporter of New York for All, a package of legislation that would solidify New York’s sanctuary laws.

“We have to make sure that it's very clear to local law enforcement that they cannot assist ICE in any way whatsoever,” he said. “I'm looking forward to working with those communities and organizations to push that aspect for sure in the next session.”

Although he is excited about his win, particularly about his margin of victory, the future Queens elected official said the real work is only just starting.

“The harder part of governing starts now,” he said. “That's the work that I'm excited to get to, and I've already been really trying to lay the groundwork for it.”