New York's Working Families Party Rejects Mamdani's Choice For Congress, Backs Antonio Reynoso

"Working Families Party Director Jasmine Gripper said Reynoso, Brooklyn's chapter president, "has the record of delivering for our communities. That put him head and shoulders above others, and got him the overwhelming majority of the vote.""

"Gripper called Reynoso "deeply trusted," and "the best candidate to fight for working families in Washington D.C., and build a movement strong enough to defeat the forces of authoritarianism. We know that as a member of Congress, he will lead the fights to protect immigrants, stand up for tenants, stand arm-in-arm with labor, and make New York a place where working families can afford to live and thrive.""

"Morris Katz, a top Mamdani adviser and a worker on Valdez's campaign, stated: "Personal relationships and institutional connections play a significant role in these kinds of decisions. But voters understand the urgent need to fundamentally change who has power in this country, and because of that, Claire Valdez will be a member of Congress come next year.""

The Working Families Party endorsed Antonio Reynoso, Brooklyn's chapter president, for the Democratic House primary in New York's 7th District, which covers Brooklyn and Queens. The endorsement bypassed Mayor Zohran Mamdani's handpicked candidate, Assemblymember Claire Valdez. Working Families Party Director Jasmine Gripper stated Reynoso received overwhelming majority support due to his proven record of delivering for communities. Reynoso faces competition from Queens City Council Member Julie Won and Valdez, who has Mamdani's backing. They seek to replace retiring Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez. Gripper praised Reynoso as deeply trusted and positioned to fight for working families, protect immigrants, support tenants, and align with labor. Mamdani adviser Morris Katz downplayed the endorsement's significance, emphasizing personal relationships and institutional connections in such decisions.

Read at Black Enterprise