Velazquez Passes the Torch: High-Profile Endorsement Propels Reynoso’s Congressional Bid

By YS Gold

In a powerful moment for New York’s progressive movement, Representative Nydia Velázquez formally endorsed Antonio Reynoso in his bid for Congress, signaling a historic handoff from one generation of leadership to the next. The endorsement, delivered with unmistakable conviction, marks a defining moment in Raynoso's campaign for congress. 

“I am proud to endorse Antonio Reynoso, Hijo de Los Sures,” Rep. Velázquez declared. Her words carried the weight of decades of representing this district and resonated across the political spectrum, especially among working families and Latino communities that have long been at the heart of her work in Washington. “He is a homegrown progressive leader ready to carry our fight forward.”

Velázquez’s endorsement was not merely symbolic. It is a major event in the race as she retires from congress and endorses a younger colleague. “Antonio understands the struggles of working families because he has lived them,” she said. Her message was clear: Reynoso embodies the values that have defined her own multi-decade legacy.

In her endorsement remarks, Velázquez touched on issues that have galvanized progressive activists nationwide. She spoke passionately about confronting inequality and injustice, pledging that Reynoso will “take on Trump unapologetically” and vigorously oppose policies she considers harmful to immigrant communities. A central theme of her endorsement was Reynoso’s commitment to abolishing ICE a  positions that have become rallying cries for many on the left.

“Antonio is the leader this moment demands: courageous, progressive, and grounded in lived experience,” Velázquez said, urging New Yorkers to support him as she “passes the torch to the next generation.” Her legacy, she affirmed, is secure in Reynoso’s hands.

Reynoso, visibly moved by the endorsement, responded with gratitude and determination. “Rep. Nydia Velázquez is a legend and an icon,” he said, personally acknowledging her decades of relentless advocacy. In a moment of political theater that delighted supporters, he humorously referred to Velázquez by the affectionate nickname “La Luchadora,” a testament to her enduring fight for her constituents.

“For decades, Nydia has fought relentlessly for our community in Washington,” Reynoso continued. “That’s exactly what I will do in Congress.” He emphasized his commitment to economic justice, pledging to build an economy that benefits working people. “This is no moment for half measures,” Reynoso said. “It’s a moment for bold action, and I’m ready to deliver it in Congress.”