Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso Tuesday won the endorsements of two key left-wing community groups for the congressional seat held by retiring Rep. Nydia Velazquez, underlining progressive divisions in the Democratic primary race, the Daily News has learned.
Make the Road Action and New York Communities for Change backed Reynoso over rival Assemblywoman Claire Valdez in the battle for the deep-blue district that snakes through parts of northern Brooklyn and western Queens.
“Antonio is someone we can trust, and has worked for our community since he was a young man,” said Eliana Caggano, a member of Make the Road Action. “Now he is ready to take the next step.”
“We’re excited to work to help send him to Congress,” added Olivia Leirer, director of New York Communities for Change.
The organizations’ support of Reynoso underlines a significant split among progressives over who should succeed Velazquez, a trailblazing Puerto Rican-born lawmaker affectionately known as “la luchadora,” or the fighter.
Valdez, a former union organizer, has the backing of the powerful Democratic Socialists of America and Mayor Mamdani, a close ally whom she endorsed early in his race for City Hall.
Influential progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), who represents a neighboring congressional district, has not yet thrown her support behind any candidate.
Reynoso, the son of Dominican immigrants from Williamsburg, is serving his second term as Brooklyn borough president. He’s been lining up support among establishment figures in the district but likely needs to shore up his left wing more to win.
Velazquez, 72, plans to serve out the remainder of her 16th term in office but says she won’t run for reelection in 2026 after more than three decades in power.
The NY-07 district was drawn to favor a Latino candidate and includes progressive strongholds like Williamsburg, Bushwick and Astoria.
