New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain are lending their support to Claire Valdez, a 36-year-old state assemblymember from Queens, in her high-stakes bid to replace Rep. Nydia Velázquez in Brooklyn-Queens congressional seat. Both powerful figures plan to attend an event with Valdez later this week, providing a significant boost to the progressive candidate.
Mamdani expressed his backing for Valdez during a recent interview with Gothamist, citing her impressive history as a labor organizer at Columbia University. He described her as the ideal candidate to champion the working class in Congress, advocating for policies like unionization reform and Medicare for All.
The endorsement comes as no surprise, given Mamdani's long-standing ties with Valdez, who was one of his earliest mayoral campaign supporters. Fain also chimed in, describing Valdez as a "working-class fighter" who would take on the interests of the wealthy elite to protect those most in need.
Valdez faces an uphill battle in the primary against Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, a progressive with close ties to the Democratic establishment. Mamdani acknowledged his respect for Reynoso but emphasized the importance of shaping the future of the party through democratic primaries.
The endorsement by these influential figures underscores Valdez's ability to tap into the labor and progressive movements in New York City. With their backing, she appears poised to succeed Velázquez, who stepped down from the seat after a trailblazing career that included becoming the first Puerto Rican elected to Congress.
Mamdani expressed his backing for Valdez during a recent interview with Gothamist, citing her impressive history as a labor organizer at Columbia University. He described her as the ideal candidate to champion the working class in Congress, advocating for policies like unionization reform and Medicare for All.
The endorsement comes as no surprise, given Mamdani's long-standing ties with Valdez, who was one of his earliest mayoral campaign supporters. Fain also chimed in, describing Valdez as a "working-class fighter" who would take on the interests of the wealthy elite to protect those most in need.
Valdez faces an uphill battle in the primary against Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, a progressive with close ties to the Democratic establishment. Mamdani acknowledged his respect for Reynoso but emphasized the importance of shaping the future of the party through democratic primaries.
The endorsement by these influential figures underscores Valdez's ability to tap into the labor and progressive movements in New York City. With their backing, she appears poised to succeed Velázquez, who stepped down from the seat after a trailblazing career that included becoming the first Puerto Rican elected to Congress.
. Claire Valdez is doing an amazing job as a state assemblymember and now she's got some heavy-hitters in her corner! I think it's awesome that Mayor Mamdani and UAW President Fain are supporting her, especially given their backgrounds. It just goes to show that the labor movement and progressive politics are really aligned right now 
. Valdez is all about fighting for workers' rights and Medicare for All - it's a breath of fresh air in these times 
. And you're right, her primary against Antonio Reynoso won't be easy, but with this level of support, she's got a good shot at making history 
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Mamdani and Fain's support for Claire Valdez is definitely a game-changer. I mean, she's got some serious street cred with her labor organizer background at Columbia Uni 
. The fact that they're both coming out to support her is huge – it says a lot about the progressive movement in NYC right now.
. Will Mamdani and Fain's endorsement be enough to tip the scales in her favor? Only time will tell 
, but I gotta wonder if it's too little, too late? We've seen a lot of progressive candidates get endorsed only to falter in the primaries. Still, having two big names like these on her side can't hurt, right? 
The fact that they're both pushing for policies like unionization reform and Medicare for All shows they're at least trying to listen to the working class... but will it translate to action? Only time will tell 
? shawn fain saying she's a "working-class fighter" sounds like a total politician speak 
The fact that Reynoso has ties to the Democratic establishment is just a smokescreen - it's all about controlling the narrative, keeping the status quo. And what about Valdez's past? Is she really a "working-class fighter" or is she just some fancy-pants politician trying to ride the wave of popularity? 
I think Claire Valdez has her sights set on the right district, Brooklyn-Queens, and with influential figures like Zohran Mamdani and Shawn Fain lending their support, she's got a solid foundation for her campaign. Her background as a labor organizer at Columbia University is impressive, and advocating for policies like unionization reform and Medicare for All would be a huge step forward for the working class in Congress.
. Another congressional seat is up for grabs and it's anyone's guess which candidate will come out on top. Meanwhile, the working-class folks are still struggling to make ends meet 
. Valdez' opponent, Reynoso, seems like a safe bet but we all know how primaries can go in New York City 
. And let's not forget about the state budget woes - another year, another batch of cuts to essential services 
. Guess what's still on the chopping block? Medicare for All... yeah, good luck with that 
... it's gonna be interesting to see how this all plays out 
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Mamdani and Fain are like, the ultimate power couple for progressive causes 
It's refreshing to see these influential figures backing someone who actually cares about the working class 
. but seriously though, i'm kinda excited to see a new face in our congress, esp one who's been fightin for the working class and all that jazz. valdez seems like she's got the goods too, from what i've heard about her work at columbia uni 
. it'll be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out, especially with mamdani and fain gettin involved. maybe we can finally see some real change happen in congress? 
- these major figures are all about Claire Valdez, which is awesome! Mamdani and Fain know she's got the right stuff, y'know? She's been grinding in labor orgs for years, and now it's time for her to take on Congress 
. I mean, Reynoso's got his own thing going on, but Valdez seems like a more genuine deal, you feel me? 
