Progressive Brooklyn borough prez launches bid to replace retiring rep's in pivotal election for Dems

""Nydia is a hero, a mentor, and a friend," said Reynoso, who previously served as a District 34 councilman. "She is the progressive pioneer who laid the groundwork for an entire generation of new leftist voices at every level of government, and no one can replace her presence. But we must continue her fight, and we will continue that fight because the need has never been greater.""

"The Brooklyn progressive, who was easily elected twice to borough president, is making his run during what is shaping up to be a pivotal election for Democrats locally and nationally as they wrestle with whether they should embrace the far-left faction that propelled socialist Zohran Mamdani to victory for mayor. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a moderate, has pushed back on the notion that the insurgent left backing Mamdani is the future of the party, as the minority leader aims to pick up enough House seats to take back the majority."

"Reynoso is not a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, but was early to endorse Mamdani. It was unclear if the incoming mayor or DSA would back the progressive with a few fellow socialists potentially eyeing a run at the open seat. Queens Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán has been rumored as a potential candidate, along with state Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblywoman Claire Valdez. All three are members of the New York City DSA. Another state senator, Julia Salazar, had also been in the mix, before she shut down the speculation."

Antonio Reynoso, 42, launched a campaign for New York's 7th Congressional District to succeed retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez after 16 terms. Reynoso previously served as District 34 councilman and was elected twice as Brooklyn borough president. Reynoso praised Velázquez as a progressive pioneer and pledged to continue her fight. The race occurs amid Democratic debates over embracing a far-left faction energized by Zohran Mamdani's mayoral victory. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has pushed back against that insurgent-left direction. Reynoso is not a member of the Democratic Socialists of America but endorsed Mamdani early. Multiple DSA-affiliated lawmakers have been mentioned as potential challengers.

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