New York Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez, the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the House, said she won’t seek another term next year, joining a growing list of Democrats who say it’s time for fresh leadership.
“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,” she told The New York Times, which first reported the news of her retirement.
“New York’s recent mayoral election showed that Americans are hungry for change and determined to build a better future,” she said in a statement. Velázquez was an early supporter of Zohran Mamdani’s successful campaign for New York mayor.
