Councilman Erik Dilan, a candidate against veteran Rep. Nydia Velázquez, announced the backing of a number of notable elected officials at the end of last week (although some of the names on the list had actually endorsed the incumbent), and Ms. Velázquez has fired back with her own support this afternoon with Borough President Marty Markowitz and other officials.
“Nydia Velázquez has always been, and will always be one of Brooklyn’s biggest supporters,” Mr. Markowitz said in a statement. “Whenever a fight arises for the survival of Brooklyn’s middle-class, support of small business or affordable housing, Congresswoman Velázquez has been there for us. Be there for her.”
Also endorsing Ms. Velázquez today were Assembly Members Joan Millman and James Brennan, as well as Councilman Brad Lander.
Of course, these endorsements don’t exactly come as a huge surprise. Mr. Lander had already been fundraising for her campaign while Ms. Millman, like Ms. Velázquez, is a political opponent of the Brooklyn Democratic organization. And Mr. Markowitz, having endorsed the congresswoman in a neighboring district he once contemplated running against, is likely to prefer incumbents by default.
Nevertheless, Ms. Velázquez is likely counting on doing well in the Brownstone Brooklyn portions of her district and the endorsements can’t hurt with Election Day coming early next week.
