Brooklyn-Queens Congressional Seat: Mamdani Backs Democratic Socialist, Boosting Progressive Left's Bidding for Power
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain are throwing their weight behind a rising star in the New York City political scene - Claire Valdez. The 36-year-old state assemblymember from Queens is gearing up to take on Rep. Nydia Velázquez's seat, which covers Brooklyn and Queens.
Valdez has been courted by two high-profile progressive leaders, who are backing her bid for Congress with a strong show of support. This endorsement marks a strategic move by Mamdani, who has already signaled his allegiance to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) movement, and Fain, who is known for championing workers' rights.
"I truly believe we need a labor organizer in Congress," said Mamdani, a fellow Democrat Socialist. "We need someone who will put forward that same agenda for the working class, whether it's legislation to make it easier to join a union or to fight for Medicare for All." He expressed confidence that Valdez would resonate with voters in the district, which has long been at the forefront of progressive movements.
Fain echoed Mamdani's sentiments, calling Valdez a "working-class fighter" who will take on the billionaire class and reclaim what's owed to the working people. The two high-profile endorsements are expected to give Valdez a significant boost as she faces off against Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso in the primary election.
The seat has been held by Velázquez, a trailblazing politician who was the first Puerto Rican elected to Congress. Her decision not to run for re-election created an opening for a new generation of progressive leaders to take center stage.
Valdez's candidacy is seen as a test of the DSA movement and Mamdani's own political ambitions. Last month, Mamdani announced his support for former City Comptroller Brad Lander in another district, demonstrating his willingness to shape the narrative and build coalitions that align with his progressive agenda.
As Valdez prepares to face Reynoso in the primary election, she is riding high on her endorsement by two prominent progressive leaders. With their backing, she is poised to challenge the status quo and bring a fresh perspective to Congress - one that prioritizes workers' rights and social justice above all else.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain are throwing their weight behind a rising star in the New York City political scene - Claire Valdez. The 36-year-old state assemblymember from Queens is gearing up to take on Rep. Nydia Velázquez's seat, which covers Brooklyn and Queens.
Valdez has been courted by two high-profile progressive leaders, who are backing her bid for Congress with a strong show of support. This endorsement marks a strategic move by Mamdani, who has already signaled his allegiance to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) movement, and Fain, who is known for championing workers' rights.
"I truly believe we need a labor organizer in Congress," said Mamdani, a fellow Democrat Socialist. "We need someone who will put forward that same agenda for the working class, whether it's legislation to make it easier to join a union or to fight for Medicare for All." He expressed confidence that Valdez would resonate with voters in the district, which has long been at the forefront of progressive movements.
Fain echoed Mamdani's sentiments, calling Valdez a "working-class fighter" who will take on the billionaire class and reclaim what's owed to the working people. The two high-profile endorsements are expected to give Valdez a significant boost as she faces off against Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso in the primary election.
The seat has been held by Velázquez, a trailblazing politician who was the first Puerto Rican elected to Congress. Her decision not to run for re-election created an opening for a new generation of progressive leaders to take center stage.
Valdez's candidacy is seen as a test of the DSA movement and Mamdani's own political ambitions. Last month, Mamdani announced his support for former City Comptroller Brad Lander in another district, demonstrating his willingness to shape the narrative and build coalitions that align with his progressive agenda.
As Valdez prepares to face Reynoso in the primary election, she is riding high on her endorsement by two prominent progressive leaders. With their backing, she is poised to challenge the status quo and bring a fresh perspective to Congress - one that prioritizes workers' rights and social justice above all else.
... politics can be so overwhelming right now! But it's actually really cool to see young and ambitious people like Claire Valdez stepping up to lead the charge for progressive change 
. It's like, she's not just talking about policies, she's actually got a personal connection to the community and is willing to fight for what's right 
. And with Mayor Mamdani and Shawn Fain backing her, it's like they're putting their weight behind something that truly matters 
. I'm rooting for her all the way!
. like mamdani is trying to boost his own profile by backing valdez, while fain is using valdez as a proxy to push his own workers' rights agenda 
. and what about the voters in the district? are they really getting a choice between these two? it feels like we're just seeing more of the same old progressive politics 
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. It's about time we see more leaders like her in Congress who aren't beholden to corporate interests or the status quo. The fact that she's a working-class fighter who's willing to take on the billionaire class makes me believe she's got what it takes to shake things up in Washington 
. And I'm loving how this endorsement is putting pressure on Reynoso to step up his game – let's see if he can keep pace with Valdez 
her endorsement by Mamdani and Fain is cool, I guess it's nice to see some young blood coming into the mix 
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, you know? She's got some serious cred with those progressive leaders Mamdani and Fain backing her up. It's gonna be interesting to see how she shakes things up in Congress, especially with Velázquez stepping down. I mean, we need more voices like hers who are all about fighting for workers' rights and social justice. Valdez seems like the real deal, you know? She's got a strong track record in Queens and now she's ready to take on the big leagues. Fingers crossed she can bring some much-needed change to Congress 
I'm loving the vibe of this primary election so far, let's see if Valdez can bring some real change to Congress 
Either way, it's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out in November! 
. Anyway, back to the news... so Claire Valdez is running for NY City Congressional Seat and it sounds like she's got some big-name endorsements behind her 
. But let's be real, this whole thing just feels like another example of the Democratic Socialists of America trying to muscle their way into Congress 
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I mean, good luck with that, kiddo! The people of Brooklyn and Queens know what they want, not some newcomer who's just riding the coattails of two high-profile endorsements 
. And btw, what's with all this "labor organizer" and "social justice" nonsense? Sounds like just another politician trying to sound cool 
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. And Zohran Mamdani is straight up being his progressive self – we need more leaders like that in office! 
What's cool is how Valdez's candidacy is giving a platform to a new gen of progressive leaders who are all about amplifying marginalized voices. Fingers crossed she can bring some real change to Congress! 
, you know, when Mark Zuckerberg was trying to build his empire? It's kinda like that with Claire Valdez now, she's getting endorsements from big names in the progressive scene and it's gonna be a wild ride. I'm low-key excited for her, but at the same time, I'm thinking "what about Antonio Reynoso?" 
. We need to start worrying about the direction this country's headed if a labor organizer in Congress is seen as a good thing 
. Still, it'll be interesting to see how this plays out - especially if she can attract more endorsements and build a strong campaign