Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Antonio Reynoso for US Congress NY-07
Candidate Name: Antonio Reynoso
Office Seeking Election for: US Congress NY-07
Campaign Website: https://www.reynosoforcongress.com/
1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why do you believe you are best qualified to represent your district?
I grew up in Los Sures, Williamsburg - just blocks from where I now live with my wife and two sons. As the son of Dominican immigrants, I saw firsthand what it could look like for government to take care of my family and me. My parents relied on Section 8 to put a roof over my head and food stamps to put dinner on the table. We depended on the local Latino-run organizations that had spent decades serving our neighbors.
That experience is why I’ve dedicated my life to fighting for working families and building a government that truly shows up for the people of NY-7.
I came home after college to organize childcare workers who had been denied the fair pay, healthcare, and dignity they deserved. At 22, I co-founded New Kings Democrats to take on Brooklyn’s corrupt party machine, and at 30, I ran for office myself - taking on disgraced party boss Vito Lopez known for scandal, sexual harassment, and strong-arming his way to power – and I won.
My victory was my community’s victory. My campaign was built in solidarity with long-term fighters, from my political godmother and mentor, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, to the formidable nonprofits that anchor my neighborhood.
I went on to serve two terms as Council Member for the 34th District, as well as Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus, where I passed landmark legislation like the Commercial Waste Zone law to protect workers and the environment, the Right to Know Act to prevent illegal police searches, and helped lead the fight to close Rikers.
As Brooklyn Borough President, I’ve continued that work, standing up for immigrants, opening an asylum application center that helped nearly 6,000 new immigrants apply for legal pathways to work, dedicating my entire first-year capital budget – $45 million – to maternal health improvements at Brooklyn’s three public hospitals, and fighting alongside workers, from Amazon drivers to nurses to deliveristas. I’ve also been unafraid to take on corruption and abuse of power, no matter who is responsible. I quickly stood up against Andrew Cuomo’s attempt to reignite his regime over New Yorkers, and when Mayor Adams tried to sell out New York City to stay out of jail, I was among the first elected officials to call on the Mayor to resign or be removed from office.
I’m running for Congress because I know what it means to fight broken systems - and win. I’ll fight for taxing the rich, ending corporate greed and influence over politics, investing in affordable housing and the social safety net, and standing with workers and unions to ensure government serves the many, not the few. As a lifelong resident of Los Sures, a public servant for over a decade, and a mentee of Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, I’m ready to step into Congress on day one and deliver for this district. I know the district, I know the people, and I know how to fight for the changes working families need.
2. What LGBTQ+ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
As Brooklyn Borough President and formerly as a City Councilmember, I have been a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. I’ve directly supported key legislation in the Council, secured resources for the Brooklyn Pride Center, and worked in coalition with fellow Brooklyn elected officials to ensure equitable funding for LGBTQ+ nonprofits. I have also been a strong supporter of the Ali Forney Center, promoting and securing resources for its critical work in protecting homeless LGBTQ+ youth. Through legislative action and direct community support, I have remained committed to advancing equity, inclusion, and justice for LGBTQ+ Brooklynites. I will continue to push for concrete achievements that support the LGBTQ+ community in Brooklyn and across New York City.
I have also endorsed many LGBTQ candidates across the city. To name a handful, I was proud to support Samy Nemir-Olivares, Chi Ossé, Carlos Menchaca and Elisa Crespo.
3. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ+ issues, pro-choice legislation, racial justice, criminal justice have you attended, including rallies specifically against Donald Trump and his policies?
I have consistently used my platform to speak out against attacks on our rights, whether they come from Donald Trump or other forces seeking to roll back progress. I stood up publicly against Trump’s assault on New York’s ability to govern itself, including efforts to undermine congestion pricing—an important environmental justice measure—and his broader attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, and racial justice. Whether it’s fighting back against Trump-era rollbacks or standing alongside advocates for criminal justice reform, I remain committed to protecting the rights of all New Yorkers.
4. In light of the Trump Administration’s war on women, the LGBTQ+ community, minorities and immigrants, what are your plans to organize and combat the Trump agenda?
As Brooklyn Borough President, I am committed to actively resisting harmful policies from the Trump administration, particularly those that target women, the LGBTQ+ community, racial minorities, and immigrants. Under my leadership, we’ve already taken concrete steps, such as opening a Satellite Asylum Application Help Center at Borough Hall, where we’ve completed over 6,000 work authorization applications to help migrants build stable lives in Brooklyn. I will continue to ensure that New York remains a sanctuary city by refusing to cooperate with ICE and ensuring that immigrants feel safe and supported in our borough.
In Congress, I will actively oppose federal cuts to critical programs that threaten essential services, from shelters for domestic violence survivors to summer youth programs and senior centers. I will prioritize funding for community-based services, immigrant rights organizations, and programs supporting education and senior services, ensuring that New York’s most vulnerable populations remain protected. I will also ensure federal funding is tied directly to the protection of LGBTQ+ rights and will continue to advocate for policies that defend our values and safeguard the future of our City in the face of federal overreach.
5. Will you seek or accept endorsements from individuals who oppose LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights?
I will not seek or accept any of those endorsements and consistently use my platform to denounce those positions.
6. Do you support the unrestricted right to reproductive care and abortion?
Yes.
7. Have you hosted, funded or otherwise supported Drag Story Hours in your community?
Yes, I have been supportive of Drag Story Hours in the past.
8. Do you support right-wing attempts to ban the teaching of “critical race theory”?
Absolutely not. Efforts to ban so-called “critical race theory” are really attempts to censor conversations about race in the classroom. If we don’t teach students about the true history of our country, it is bound to repeat itself.
9. How will you work to enhance protections for immigrants and uphold New York’s role as a Sanctuary City?
What our community witnessed at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center this month shows that we still have so much work to do to protect our city’s status as a Sanctuary City. The NYPD was seen coordinating with ICE agents on the ground, and we still do not have clear guidance from city leaders as to how the NYPD should behave when called to the scene where ICE is present. I, in partnership with Congressmember Nydia Velázquez, State Senator Julia Salazar, and Councilmembers Sandy Nurse and Jennifer Gutiérrez, sent a letter to the Mayor and Police Commissioner demanding clear and public guidance for the NYPD to ensure that immigrants never have to question whether a police officer is there to protect them or aid in their deportation.
In Congress, I will fight to strengthen sanctuary protections, stop federal overreach by ICE, push for a pathway to citizenship, expand legal services for immigrants, and ensure families can access schools, hospitals, and city services without fear. I also support legislation like the New York for All Act and broader efforts to limit collaboration between local governments and federal immigration enforcement. I believe that our work is not done until every child can safely and confidently go to school, every New York resident can access the healthcare they need, and people do not live in fear.
10. Do you support New York becoming a Transgender Sanctuary State?
Yes, especially at this moment when transgender youth and adults are under attack by the federal government. Donald Trump’s Department of Justice just requested medical records for trans youth, clearly trying to stoke fear and intimidate hospitals out of providing medically necessary care. Here in New York City, we have a responsibility to protect access to gender-affirming care and defend people from discriminatory laws, prosecutions coming from other states, and clear federal overreach meant to divide us.
11. If elected, will you commit to supporting legislation that raises taxes on the richest New Yorkers and large corporations in order to fund the services and investments our communities need?
Yes, absolutely. The federal plan I proposed starts with applying a 5 percent annual tax on wealth above $50 million and a 10 percent annual tax on wealth above $250 million, a proposal estimated to raise approximately $6.8 trillion over ten years. This is not just about wealthy people holding onto money that should be taxed, this is about the ultra-wealthy actively using that wealth to increase working families’ costs. Their money isn’t sitting still. It’s working against working people. I am also a strong proponent of closing tax loopholes that allow billionaires to exploit retirement programs intended for the working and middle class, as well as ending Citizens United to get money out of politics and ensure corporations are not diluting our democracy.
12. How will you represent the most vulnerable, including individuals experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers? Have you ever opposed any shelter in your district?
As Borough President, I’ve supported housing-first approaches that connect people experiencing homelessness with mental health services, healthcare, and long-term stability. I also opened Brooklyn’s asylum application help center to support 6,000 newly arrived immigrants seeking work authorization and legal pathways. In Congress, I’ll fight for major investments in affordable housing, fight to repeal the Faircloth amendment so we can build more housing, expand supportive housing, mental healthcare, and federal resources for cities welcoming asylum seekers.
13. Do you oppose the death penalty?
Yes.
14. Do you support outlawing solitary confinement?
Yes.
15. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated? Will you work to secure the release of individuals who have demonstrated sincere remorse, worked toward rehabilitation and are not deemed a threat to society?
Yes. I believe in restorative justice and second chances. I supported efforts like Elder Parole and have long advocated for reducing mass incarceration and transforming our justice system away from punishment-first policies.
16. Do you commit to make applications for clemencies available to your constituency including a link to an application in a constituent newsletter? Will you submit it to our club?
Yes. I believe people should have meaningful access to clemency resources and information, especially individuals and families navigating the justice system without institutional support. I would be happy to work with the club on ways to make those resources more accessible.
17. Did you rank Andrew Cuomo on your Democratic primary ballot in 2025? Who did you support for mayor in the 2025 Democratic primary and general election?
I did not rank Andrew Cuomo. I publicly opposed his candidacy and was clear that New Yorkers deserved new leadership. I supported and publicly endorsed Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, and Adrienne Adams for Mayor.
18. In view of the fact that Ed Koch has been documented to have caused the deaths of scores of people with AIDS, excused city council members who voted against the gay rights bill and was blatantly racist, would you support renaming the former Queensboro Bridge?
Yes.
19. Do you support naming the soon to be reconstructed 42nd street bus terminal the Bella Abzug Port Authority?
Yes.
20. If an incumbent, how did you vote on House Res. 719 “Honoring the Life and Legacy of Charles Kirk”? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted?
I would not have supported House Resolution 719. Charlie Kirk spent his career sowing hate, attacking LGBTQ+ people, and promoting dangerous right-wing extremism and violent rhetoric.
21. Do you support the immediate impeachment of Trump and other administration officials? If yes, which?
Yes, Donald Trump has repeatedly abused the powers of the presidency and flagrantly disregarded our Constitution and rule of law, from launching a war without congressional oversight to inciting an insurrection to threatening a genocide in Iran on social media, just to name a few. I would also call for the impeachment of Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller for his role in enabling ICE agents to murder innocent civilians.
22. When Democrats regain power, do you favor Justice Department prosecutions to hold Trump’s administration officials accountable for criminal offenses?
Yes, absolutely. No one is above the law.
23. Would you vote to defund ICE?
Yes, I support abolishing ICE entirely.
24. If an incumbent, how did you vote on House Resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted?
I would have opposed the censure of Rep. Rashida Tlaib. Members of Congress should not be censured for speaking out about human rights abuses.
25. If an incumbent, how have you voted on allowing NSA to conduct warrantless searches? If not an incumbent, how would you vote?
As AI and surveillance technology become more advanced, we’re seeing governments and corporations use personal data to fuel needless and illegal deportations, track communities, and even drive things like algorithmic pricing and discrimination.
Working people should not have to live in fear that their data will be weaponized by ICE or exploited by corporations for profit. Congress needs real limits on surveillance and stronger protections against both government abuse and corporate overreach.
26. If an incumbent, how did you vote on House Res 58 “Denouncing the Horrors of Socialism”? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted?
I would have opposed House Resolution 58. Congress should focus on addressing our affordability crisis instead of fear mongering.
27. If an incumbent, how did you house on a resolution directing the removal of all troops in foreign nations not authorized by Congress?
I firmly believe Congress must reclaim its constitutional authority over war powers. The United States should not maintain endless military engagements abroad without authorization or accountability from Congress.
28. Do you support allowing DC to fund its own government, including the criminal justice system, without oversight by Congress?
Yes, the people of DC deserve real representation. I would support Washington funding its own government without Congressional interference.
29. What is your legislative remedy to secure the building of low and moderate-income housing around the state?
We need a massive federal investment in affordable housing and public housing. We must start with repealing the Faircloth Amendment, which has blocked the expansion of public housing for decades while the housing crisis has gotten so much worse. I also support expanding federal housing subsidies like Section 8 that allowed my own parents to put a roof over my head when I was growing up. I will also fight to crack down on corporate speculation and private equity firms buying up our housing stock which is only driving up rent.
30. Will you refuse donations from AIPAC, SolidarityPAC, police and corrections associations, the fossil fuel industry, and the charter school industry?
Yes.
31. Do you support removing criminal penalties for consensual commercial sex work between adults?
Yes.
32. What additional information would you like the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision?
I hope the club considers both my record and the coalition we are building in this race. My career has been rooted in fighting for working-class New Yorkers, immigrants, LGBTQ+ communities, tenants, and people too often left out of power. Whether taking on the corrupt Brooklyn political machine, standing with workers on picket lines, fighting for criminal justice reform, or defending immigrant communities from ICE, I’ve never been afraid to speak up when it matters.
I’m running for Congress because I believe this district deserves a progressive fighter who understands our communities firsthand and knows how to deliver real results. I would be honored to earn your support.
33. If you receive our endorsement, do you agree to identify the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club on all appropriate literature and electronic materials?
Yes!