Congressman Bernie Sanders on Thursday endorsed state Assemblymember Claire Valdez in the primary for New York's 7th Congressional District.
"Claire Valdez is a union organizer who worked minimum-wage fast food jobs and understands firsthand how this economy fails working people," Sanders wrote on X. " In my view, Congress needs more voices like Claire, who come from America's working class."
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso is also looking to replace Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, who in November announced that she was not going to seek re-election. Queens City Council Member Julie Won is also running for the seat that covers parts of Brooklyn and Queens.
"Three things made me a democratic socialist: low-wage jobs, the labor movement, and the campaigns of @BernieSanders," Valdez said on X. "His political revolution changed my life — and showed millions of Americans what's possible when working people organize. I am so grateful for his support."
Valdez is part of the Democratic Socialists of America, and has the backing of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Shawn Fain, the president of the United Auto Workers, state Senator Jabari Brisport, United Auto Workers Region 9A, among others.
Velázquez, U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan, Rep. Jerry Nadler, New York Attorney General Letitia James, the Working Families Party, Make the Road Action, Citizen Action of New York, and the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, among others, have endorsed Reynoso.
Meanwhile Reynoso's campaign on Friday said it has collected more than 10,000 petition signatures from voters across the NY-7 District, which it said underscores broad, community-driven support for the Brooklyn native.
"Every single signature represents a family stretched thin by rent, a worker putting in long hours and still coming up short, or a parent wondering if their kids will ever be able to afford to stay in the neighborhood they grew up in," Reynoso said in a statement. "I'm running for Congress because the 7th District deserves a fighter, someone who will show up every single day for the people of Brooklyn and Queens. I will be their fighter.”
The Democratic primary election is on June 23.
