Julie Won has entered the Democratic primary race for New York’s 7th Congressional District, adding another contender to an already crowded and closely watched contest to succeed retiring Representative Nydia Velázquez.
Won, a New York City Councilmember representing Western Queens, filed to run this week, joining a field that includes Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Assembly Member Claire Valdez. The district covers parts of Queens and Brooklyn, including the neighborhoods of Long Island City, Sunnyside, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, and Bushwick, which are considered among the city’s most progressive areas.
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The race has exposed divisions within New York’s Democratic Party. Reynoso has secured the endorsement of Velázquez, who is stepping down after three decades in Congress. Valdez, a Democratic Socialist of America (DSA) member, has the backing of Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city’s DSA chapter. Won is not affiliated with the DSA and has described herself as a progressive Democrat positioning her campaign outside factional politics.
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“People deserve choices,” Won remarked in an interview, emphasizing that she does not come from “the establishment or the democratic socialists club,” while supporting progressive priorities. She has centered her campaign on what she calls a “lifetime of care,” including universal child care, paid leave and protections for seniors. “It’s now become a luxury to have kids,” she observed.
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Won immigrated to New York from South Korea at age 8. Before entering politics, she worked as a consultant for IBM in Washington. In 2021, she won a 15-way primary to represent a Queens City Council district that overlaps much of the 7th Congressional District and secured re-election last fall. She has emphasized her experience as an immigrant, a working mother, and the only candidate in the race with extensive corporate experience prior to holding office.
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