Brooklyn Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez to Step Down in 2026

After more than 30 years of public service, Brooklyn Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez on Thursday said she will not seek reelection in 2026.

"After much reflection, I have decided that this will be my last term in Congress," she said in a statement. "This was not an easy decision, but I believe that the time is right for me to move on and for a new generation of leaders to step forward."

Velázquez, 72, who represents Greenpoint, Williamsburg, and parts of Bushwick, grew up in the Yabucoa region in Puerto Rico. After moving to New York to pursue a master's degree, she was the first Latina to serve on the City Council in 1984. She then became a U.S. Representative for Congressional District 12 in 1993, and after redistricting, for District 7.
 
"I first ran in 1993, because I believed the voices of my community, immigrants, workers, families struggling to get by, were not being heard," she said. "I made history that year as the first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress, representing a newly drawn district that finally reflected the people who lived in it. Back then, there were only three Latinas in the House. One of the greatest honors of my career has been helping open the doors for those who came after us."
 
She was the first Latina to chair a full committee in Congress, and as the top Democrat on the Small Business Committee, Velázquez worked to expand access to capital and open doors in the federal marketplace for women, minorities and veterans.

Velázquez said one of her proudest accomplishments was creating the Women-Owned Small Business contracting program, which became law in 2001 and has helped thousands of women entrepreneurs get ahead.
 
As chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, she also worked with President Barack Obama to confirm Justice Sonia Sotomayor as the first Latina on the Supreme Court.

She has also secured hundreds of millions of dollars in New York to clean up the environment, improve transportation, and support public housing residents, and has stood up for Puerto Rican statehood for years.

Velázquez said the so-called 'American Dream' is slipping further away from working people under President Donald Trump, as wealth inequality worsens and life becomes less affordable. 
 
"But I believe in the resiliency of the American people and the ability of a new generation of leaders who are ready for these great challenges," she said. "New York’s recent mayoral election showed that Americans are hungry for change and determined to build a better future."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Velázquez has been "a voice for the voiceless, a defender of democracy and a relentless champion for the self-determination of Puerto Rico."

"From the very beginning of my journey in the Congress, Rep. Velázquez has been a tremendous mentor, friend and partner. It’s been an immense honor to learn from her and serve alongside her in the New York delegation," he said.

Velázquez said she does not know what the next chapter holds, but will continue to fight for the city and to end Puerto Rico's status as a U.S. territory. 
 
"Serving New York has been the honor of my life," she said.