City Councilmember Julie Won has filed to run in the race to replace Nydia Velázquez in New York’s 7th Congressional District. File photo by Gerardo Romo / NYC Council Media Unit
By Jacob Kaye
Queens City Councilmember Julie Won filed to run in the already crowded race to replace Nydia Velázquez in New York’s 7th Congressional District on Monday.
Won, who has represented parts of Astoria, Woodside, Sunnyside, Long Island City, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Maspeth in the City Council since 2022, filed paperwork this week to launch a bid for the open congressional seat, which covers sections of both Western Queens and Brooklyn.
The local lawmaker joins a hotly contested race that has drawn interest from around the city.
Already in the race are Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who was endorsed by Velázquez. Queens Assemblymember Claire Valdez has also begun campaigning for the seat and has picked up support from Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the New York City Democratic Socialists of America.
Should Won officially enter the race, she’ll have to fundraise quickly. Reynoso has already brought in $317,000 in contributions ahead of the June primary. Valdez has yet to report any fundraising in the race but launched her campaign about a month before Won’s filing.
Won did not respond to a request for comment from the Eagle on Monday.
Though Won endorsed Mamdani in his primary race against former Governor Andrew Cuomo, she’s broken from the mayor in a number of races in Queens.
Won recently endorsed Rana Abdelhamid in the special election to fill Mamdani’s vacant seat in the Assembly. The mayor has backed Diana Moreno, a fellow DSA member, in the race. Similarly, Won endorsed Brian Romero, a candidate in Assembly District 34. Though Mamdani hasn’t officially endorsed in the contest, New York City DSA endorsed Aber Kawas, a member of the organization, in the race. Mamdani is reportedly supportive of Kawas’ campaign.
