Mamdani backs Valdez and Orkin at Woodhaven rally

Early voting for the 2026 general election opened Saturday in southeast Queens. Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined Democratic candidates Claire Valdez and David Orkin at a rally in the Woodhaven and Ozone Park border area.

The event took place on October 24 at London Planetree Playground. Union members and volunteers gathered to launch door-knocking campaigns in the neighborhood.

Mamdani described Orkin and Valdez as champions for working-class voters. He said the city has a chance to send a candidate with a strong labor track record to Albany and another to Washington.

“We need more people in office for whom their track record is fighting for workers and who dream of continuing that fight,” Mamdani said. “And David, we have the opportunity to send someone to Albany who is exactly that kind of champion.”

He added, “We’ve seen another champion who was just in Albany with that very kind of track record in Assemblywoman Claire (Valdez) … and we are so excited, so excited that we have the chance to send Claire Valdez to Washington.”

Representatives from several unions attended the rally, including the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council, OPEIU Local 153, PSC-CUNY, UAW Region 9A, Workers United NY NJ, SEIU, and 32BJ SEIU. Megan Wylie, political director at HTC, said the candidates would lead the fight for better wages.

“The next 10 days are more important than ever before. We know that Claire will stand up for workers and be that voice in Washington, and we know that David will be that voice in Albany,” Wylie said.

Valdez and Orkin both cited their union backgrounds during their remarks. Valdez noted that her union taught her to organize coworkers for dignity on the shop floor.

“But it also taught me that what we win at the bargaining table can be taken away at the ballot box,” Valdez said.

Valdez is the Democratic nominee for the 7th Congressional District. She defeated Council Member Julie Won and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso in the June primary. The seat was previously held by U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez. Orkin is the Democratic nominee for Assembly District 38. He defeated incumbent Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar in the June primary.

Early voting runs through Sunday, November 1. The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3.