NY-07: Bernie Sanders wades into race to back Mamdani's pick to replace Velzquez

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed Assembly Member Claire Valdez on Thursday in the Democratic primary for New York’s 7th Congressional District, giving Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s preferred candidate a major boost in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez.

The endorsement puts Sanders, one of the biggest champions of democratic socialism in American politics, squarely on Valdez’s side in a contest that has become a test of the city’s left flank after Velázquez’s retirement. Velázquez has backed Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso as her preferred successor, while Mamdani endorsed Valdez within a day of her launch.

Valdez already has backing from the United Auto Workers and the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, of which she is a member. She has also benefited from her partnership with Mamdani, who not only endorsed her early but also publicly appeared with her, issued a joint video fundraising call, and lent her his closest political advisers, as reported by City & State.

In the race to represent the heavily progressive district spanning western Queens and north Brooklyn, Reynoso has lined up support from Velázquez, Rep. Pat Ryan, Rep. Jerry Nadler, Attorney General Letitia James, the Working Families Party, Make the Road Action, Citizen Action of New York, and the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council.



https://www.amny.com/news/bernie-sanders-ny-7-race-back-mamdanis-pick/