The retirement of the first Puerto Rican woman in Congress opens a competitive fight to replace her in a safely Democratic New York City seat.
Democratic Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) announced on Nov. 20 that she will not seek reelection in 2026 after more than three decades representing parts of New York City.
"After much reflection, I have decided that this will be my last term in Congress. This was not an easy decision, but I believe that the time is right for me to move on and for a new generation of leaders to step forward."
From 1993 to 2013, Velázquez represented New York's 12th Congressional District, and since redistricting that year, she has represented the 7th District.
She grew up in a small town in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, before coming to New York as a teenager to pursue a master's degree. She became the first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress.
"I first ran in 1993, because I believed the voices of my community, immigrants, workers, families struggling to get by, were not being heard," she said.
"Back then, there were only three Latinas in the House. One of the greatest honors of my career has been helping open the doors for those who came after us."
Over more than three decades in Congress, Velázquez built seniority and influence. She became the first Latina to chair a full committee in Congress and, as the top Democrat on the House Small Business Committee, she worked to expand access to capital and federal contracts "for women, minorities, and veterans," she said.
One of her proudest achievements, she said, was the Women-Owned Small Business contracting program, which became law in 2001.
She also cited work as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, including helping confirm Justice Sonia Sotomayor as the first Latina on the Supreme Court, supporting small businesses during the COVID pandemic, opposing the Iraq War, and backing an immediate cease-fire in the 2023 war in Gaza.
She pointed to funding she helped secure for environmental cleanup, transportation projects, and public housing in New York, and to her long-running push for Puerto Rico's self-determination, including passage of the Puerto Rico Status Act in 2022.
Velázquez said she feels "the urgency of this moment every day," citing civil rights, democracy, and affordability concerns under the Trump administration, but added that she believes "a new generation of leaders" is ready to meet those challenges.
Her decision comes just weeks after 34-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani was elected New York City's next mayor and is expected to trigger a competitive Democratic primary in her safely blue district, which includes parts of Brooklyn and Queens.
Velázquez endorsed Mamdani in the city's ranked-choice mayoral primary, backing him along with two other candidates in an effort to block former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo's attempted comeback.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called Velázquez "a trailblazer, tenacious truth-teller and transformational figure" in a statement praising her career.
"Known to anyone who has witnessed her passion and advocacy firsthand as 'La Luchadora,' there is nobody better to have in your corner than Nydia," he said, calling her "a tremendous mentor, friend and partner" and saying she will be "deeply missed" by House Democrats.
La Luchadora is Spanish for "fighter," a nickname supporters and colleagues use for the progressive lawmaker.
"Your grace and fight showed us what real leadership looks like. From the bottom of my heart, thank you La Luchadora," he said.
Velázquez said she does not yet know what her next chapter will be, but pledged to keep fighting for New York City and "for an end to Puerto Rico's colonial status," calling her time in office "the honor of my life."