Zohran Mamdani has boosted Claire Valdez on the campaign trail and off

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is pulling out all the stops to support Assembly Member Claire Valdez’s run for Congress. On the campaign side, he endorsed his fellow Queens Democratic socialist at a rally, issued a joint video fundraising call and lent her his closest political advisers.

He’s also appeared with Valdez in his government capacity. He raised some eyebrows with his latest appearance with her over the weekend distributing food in Ridgewood, Queens, in her Assembly district. The event was his public schedule, and afterwards he said from the @NYCMayor account on X, that there was “no better way to start the weekend.” Although it wasn’t his only distribution stop that day (he handed out food with elected officials in Jamaica, Queens), it is one of a few recent moments where Mamdani has shown up for Valdez in either her Assembly district or the congressional district.

Spent this afternoon with @ValdezAssembly and Ridgewood leader Father Mike Lopez, distributing food to our neighbors at the Hungry Monk Rescue Truck. ⁰⁰No better way to start the weekend. pic.twitter.com/0q0wTwzmhf

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 14, 2026

Last month, Mamdani invited Valdez to a bowling event to celebrate the end of the nurses’ strike. It was organized by the mayor’s government-side team, but her attendance seemed political. The bowling alley was not in Valdez’s current district, but it was in the congressional district, and Valdez’s opponent, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, was notably absent. Reynoso’s campaign team confirmed that he was not invited to that event, but declined to comment further. On Jan. 30, Mamdani held an announcement in Long Island City – Valdez’s district – regarding a $5 million settlement and the reinstatement of wrongfully deactivated food delivery workers. Days after his inauguration, Mamdani held a press conference in Valdez’s district about cracking down on junk fees. That press conference happened shortly before Valdez launched her congressional campaign.

“This is the new Jenifer Rajkumar,” quipped one elected official, referencing the omnipresent Assembly member who was close with former Mayor Eric Adams.

The mayor’s office declined to offer a statement on the record, but pointed out that Mamdani has appeared with numerous elected officials, and he’s appeared more frequently with Reynoso than he has with Valdez. City Hall identified five events Reynoso and Mamdani both attended, though three of them were jointly hosted by the mayor and the governor. Mamdani has also appeared at least twice with City Council Member Julie Won, who’s also running for the seat. As such, a spokesperson for the mayor argued that this is not a story.

Valdez’s Assembly office also rejected the premise that Mamdani was promoting her candidacy on government time. The food distribution event in Ridgewood was scheduled by their office, and the mayor was invited.

“As elected democratic socialists, the Mayor and Assemblymember Valdez share a number of priorities,” said Erica Landau, who is Valdez’s chief of staff. “If that work brings him to Western Queens, the assemblymember welcomes the chance to collaborate.”

Mamdani is Valdez’s most notable backer, though she’s also been endorsed by the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, United Auto Workers Region 9A and Jewish Voices for Peace Action. Reynoso is backed by most of the institutional left, including retiring incumbent Rep. Nydia Velázquez, the Working Families Party, Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, 32BJ SEIU, and electeds like Attorney General Letitia James and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.