NEW YORK — Rep. Nydia Velázquez, the Brooklyn progressive known to allies as “La Luchadora” for her fighting spirit, announced Thursday that she’s retiring from Congress and will not seek reelection next year.
The Democrat’s surprise decision against a 17th term sparked instantaneous debate over who would become her successor. And it marked the second planned departure by a septuagenarian member of Congress in New York City. Manhattan Rep. Jerry Nadler, 78, announced his retirement in September and has at least 10 Democrats vying to take his seat.
Velázquez, 72, said the time had come for generational change.
“I’ve been here 34 years. So I know in my heart, I feel good, and I know that there is a pipeline of young elected officials that will step in and represent the district here with dignity, with compassion, with commitment,” she told POLITICO in a brief interview.
