U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) revealed on Thursday that she will not be seeking reelection in the 2026 midterms, which serves as yet another big blow to Democrats who are seeking to take control of the House of Representatives from the GOP next year. Velazquez was first elected to the House in 1992, proving once again the need for term limits placed on positions in Congress.
Velazquez, 72, stated that she feels now is the right time to step away from the seat due to what she referred to as a growing desire for younger leadership within the Democratic Party. Many believe that the older generation of Democrats, who tend to be a bit more moderate than younger party members, are being pushed out in favor of its current push to the extreme left.
“I love this work and I love my district, but I believe now is the right moment to step aside and allow a new generation of leaders to step forward,” Velazquez said about her departure from the House. The Democratic congresswoman, who represents New York’s Seventh Congressional District, specifically noted the election of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani to the Big Apple’s mayoral seat as a sign of the direction the party and its voters are headed.
According to Trending Politics News, Velazquez added that she’s confident in the abilities of future party leaders and believes now is the right time to pass the torch. Unfortunately, the Seventh Congressional District is firmly blue, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+30. The area includes Long Island City, Astoria, Sunnyside, Maspeth, Ridgewood and sizable chunks of Brooklyn.
Velazquez has served 16 full terms in the House, winning a special election in 1992, giving her a total time in office of over 33 years. She also served as the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for several years between 2009 and 2011, playing an integral role in getting Sonia Sotomayor confirmed as the first Latina U.S. Supreme Court Justice in 2009.
The congresswoman is also a ranking member of the House Committee on Small Business, as well as occupying a seat on House committees on issues such as financial regulation and natural resources. As of this writing, no potential candidates have come forward for the Democratic Party primary, but experts believe the field will be stacked.
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Several other high-profile Democrats have decided to step down before the all-important midterms, including Velazquez’s colleague, New York Congressman Jerry Nadler. Nadler also represents a deep-blue district that has several candidates who are looking to cinch the Democratic Party nomination for his seat.
Another big name who has decided to call it quits is former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who recently announced her retirement, which led to two primary challengers coming forward to duke it out for her coveted position. Two individuals who have stated they have an interest in potentially stepping into Velazquez’s role include state Sen. Julia Salazar and Councilmember Jennifer Gutierrez. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and Councilmember Tiffany Caban have also been floated as potential successors, according to the Queens Eagle.
Featured image: screenshot from embedded video