Antonio Reynoso, the Brooklyn borough president, has formally announced his bid for New York’s 7th Congressional District, the seat soon to be vacated by Representative Nydia Velázquez after 16 terms. At 42, Reynoso becomes the first high-profile candidate to enter the race in this predominantly progressive district, which encompasses parts of Brooklyn and Queens including Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Ridgewood.
“Nydia is a hero, a mentor, and a friend,” Reynoso remarked, emphasizing Velázquez’s role in shaping a new generation of progressive leaders and observing that she “laid the groundwork for an entire generation of new leftist voices at every level of government.”
Reynoso, who previously served as a City Council member representing District 34, stressed his motivation to protect social safety net programs and combat federal efforts to curb immigration. He has a long record of progressive activism including co-chairing the City Council’s Progressive Caucus.
As the district prepares for a highly contested primary, the race highlights the evolving dynamics within New York City’s progressive movement and the broader debate over the Democratic Party’s direction in the coming elections.
