Antonio Reynoso, Brooklyn Borough President, Will Run For Congress

BROOKLYN, NY — Brooklyn borough president Antonio Reynoso has announced that he will run for a New York City congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez.

Reynoso confirmed the decision to The New York Times on Thursday.

The 42-year-old is the first candidate to declare to run for the NY-7 seat. Two weeks ago, Velázquez announced that she would not seek reelection next year. The 72-year-old has served 16 terms and is the first Puerto Rican woman to serve in Congress.

In an interview with the Times, Reynoso said he wants to fight President Trump’s attempts to curb immigration and federal safety net programs and would seek to “decorporatize the Democratic Party.

“I want to be a voice to push the party to the left,” he told the Times.

New York's seventh congressional district includes neighborhoods like Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Bushwick and Ridgewood in Brooklyn.

The Democratic Socialists of America is expected to vote in January to endorse one of their members to run for the seat, according to the report.

Other democratic lawmakers are exploring possible runs, including Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblywoman Claire Valdez

Reynoso was elected borough president in 2021, succeeding Eric Adams, who was elected as mayor.