Valdez leads Reynoso in the contest for Brooklyn District 7, but the race remains open due to the high number of undecided voters who have yet to define their support heading into the June Democratic primaries.
A new measurement from Emerson College Polling places state assemblywoman Claire Valdez, of Mexican descent, with 23% support, just two points ahead of Brooklyn County President Antonio Reynoso, who registers 21%.
The study also shows Julie Won in third place, with 13%. Far behind appears a broad group of citizens who have yet to make a decision: 43% remains undecided, a fact that can change the board if participation focuses on specific sectors of the district.
Valdez leads Reynoso in a key Brooklyn district
Valdez’s lead over Reynoso is explained, in part, by a stronger base of support among young voters and the backing of key figures within New York progressivism. The candidate counts on the push of Mayor Zohran Mandani, as well as Senator Bernie Sanders, unions, and state legislators.
Reynoso, on the other hand, retains the support of a traditional institutional network that includes Attorney General Letitia James, Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, and Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, among other political and union allies.
The age divide favors Valdez
According to Emerson College Polling Executive Director Spencer Kimball, there is a clear generational divide. Among voters under 40, Valdez leads Reynoso by 33% to 15%. In the 40-49 age group, the contest is practically tied: 23% for Valdez and 22% for Reynoso.
The landscape changes among voters over 50, where Reynoso takes the lead with 27% to 13%. That difference suggests that the final outcome may depend on which segment manages to mobilize more voters on primary day.
A diverse district with voters still open
Brooklyn District 7 covers areas such as Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace, Greenwood Heights, and South Park Slope. It is a zone of strong immigrant presence and diverse composition, with 120,000 residents in the last census cited and a majority of U.S. citizens at 76.1%.
The report also highlights that Valdez leads Reynoso among men, while women are undecided. That data reinforces the idea that the contest remains undefined, especially in a district with high racial and political mix.
Voters over 50 years old lean towards Reynoso over Valdez, with 27% to 13%, while voters under 40 favor Valdez.
Mandani maintains high approval in the district
The poll also shows an approval rate of 78% for Mayor Mandani among Democratic voters in the district, a level that may influence the perception of candidates backed by his structure. Additionally, most respondents said they felt very safe in their neighborhood.
With Valdez leads Reynoso by a narrow margin and 43% of undecided voters still unmoved, the June 23 primary in New York will remain one of the most watched in a scenario where several Democratic seats are up for grabs. In a district as fragmented as the 7th, every block of support can tip the outcome.
