US EditionNew York Dem Nydia Velázquez stepping down after 3 decades
Velázquez, the first Puerto Rican woman in Congress, cites generational change and mentors emerging leaders; her retirement opens a competitive primary in a heavily Democratic district.
- On Thursday, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez announced she will retire next year, ending a historic 16-term congressional career after more than three decades in Congress.
- Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez, a longtime committee leader, has represented parts of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens since 1993 and helped launch the Women-Owned Small Business contracting program.
- Known as 'La Luchadora,' Velázquez endorsed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Sandy Nurse and backed Zohran Mamdani in the mayoral primary.
- Her retirement clears the way for a competitive Democratic primary in the 7th District, and her office did not immediately respond to requests for comment amid other New York retirements.
- Velázquez thanked supporters and said serving New York has been 'the honor of my life' while noting she does not yet know what the next chapter holds, and wrote that now is the right time to step aside for a new generation of leaders.
54 Articles
54 Articles
Long-Serving NYC House Democrat Rep. Velázquez Will Not Seek Reelection in 2026
Democratic Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) announced on Nov. 20 that she will not seek reelection in 2026 after more than three decades representing parts of New York City. “For more than three decades, I have had the privilege of a lifetime serving the people of New York City in the United States Congress,” she said in her announcement. “After much reflection, I have decided that this will be my last term in Congress. This was not an easy decisio…
NEW: Longtime House Democrat Announces Retirement
U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) announced Thursday that she will not be seeking re-election in 2026. Velázquez, who was first elected in 1992, joins a number of longtime Democrats whom have also announced their retirements ahead of the pivotal midterm cycle. Velázquez, 72, told the New York Times that she felt it was necessary to step aside due to a growing desire for generational change in the Democratic Party. “I love this work and I love my …
Rep. Nydia Velazquez won’t seek reelection to deep-blue House seat
Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-New York) has announced she won’t seek reelection in 2026 to her deep-blue congressional seat, ending a more than three-decade career in Congress for the trailblazing progressive lawmaker who was the first Puerto Rican woman ever elected to Congress. Velazquez, affectionately dubbed “La Luchadora,” or The Fighter, says she will step aside next year after 16 terms representing her predominantly Latino NY-07 district that e…
House Dem serving since 1993 announces she won't seek re-election
Democratic Rep. Nydia Velázquez of New York — the first Puerto Rican woman ever elected to Congress — announced she will not seek re-election next year after more than three decades in office."For more than three decades, I have had the privilege of a lifetime serving the people of New York City in the United States Congress. After much reflection, I have decided that this will be my last term in Congress. This was not an easy decision, but I be…
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