Jimmy Van Bramer + Rana Abdelhamid Cross-endorse

QUEENS, NY (05/06/2021) (readMedia)-- Today, Jimmy Van Bramer and Rana Abdelhamid co-endorsed each other for Queens Borough President and Congress (NY-12) respectively. Both progressive candidates are running people-powered campaigns that uplift working families. Van Bramer is the second sitting elected official to endorse Abdelhamid, and the first in the district she's running to represent. He's often an early supporter to get behind progressive candidates like Tiffany Caban, pushing primarily women and BIPOC, as well as gender non-conforming candidates forward.

In this cycle alone he's endorsed Jaslin Kaur, Moumita Ahmed, Aleda Gagarin, Marti Gould Allen Cummings, Mino Lora, Chi Osse?, John Choe, Elisa Crespo, and Juan Ardila. That's on top of pre-existing support for trans District Leaders like Melissa Sklarz and Emilia Decaudin.

Just last weekend, Van Bramer and Abdelhamid teamed up on a small business walk in Long Island City to talk about Amazon, pandemic relief, commercial rent control, gentrification, and Open Streets.

"Rana Abdelhamid is a lifelong Queens activist and would be a champion for progressive values in Washington. The district has become more diverse while increasingly inequitable, and Rana has the vision to make sure Western Queens, Manhattan's East Side, and North Brooklyn is a place for working families, not just Wall Street and the well-connected. She is a fighter and willing to throw down on housing, economic, environmental, and racial justice on a local and federal level, and together we can make this city a place that works for everyone," said Jimmy Van Bramer.

"For too long, working families in Queens have been left behind. Jimmy Van Bramer is the progressive champion we need to fight for the recovery we deserve," said Rana Abdelhamid. "Councilman Van Bramer was a leader in the fight against Amazon and its anti-union practices coming to New York City - I'm thrilled to support him for Queens Borough President, and grateful to receive his support for our campaign. Together we'll fight for a future where residents, not real estate developers or giant corporations, shape our communities in Queens and beyond."

Van Bramer is the only candidate for Queens Borough President to reject real estate money, uplift small businesses, and put communities at the center of the land use process. Born and raised in Astoria, Queens, he is a life-long progressive activist who's been fighting machine politics for over two decades. Van Bramer rose to Deputy Leader of the New York City Council and is a founding member of the progressive caucus of the New York City Council. Before being elected to the City Council, he organized for LGBTQ rights, public financing of elections, and for the Queens Public Library. He currently lives in Sunnyside Gardens with his husband Dan Hendrick and is the first openly-gay, married elected official in the borough of Queens. Van Bramer is endorsed by Queens Library Guild Local 1321 (part of DC37), National Association of Social Workers- New York City, The League of Independent Theater, Senator Jessica Ramos, Assembly Member Ron Kim, Zephyr Teachout, Cynthia Nixon, Council Member and Comptroller candidate Brad Lander, and a slate of progressive City Council candidates. Learn more at www.jimmyvanbramer.nyc.

A child of working-class immigrants who grew up in Astoria, Queens, Rana Abdelhamid has dedicated her life to protecting her neighbors and community when politicians fail to act. After being assaulted for wearing a hijab at age 16, Rana launched Malikah, a nonprofit that builds power for women and girls from marginalized backgrounds through self-defense, healing, organizing, and financial literacy. Now, after watching twin crises-a pandemic and a recession-devastate her community, Rana is running for Congress on a bold vision of housing justice and economic security for all. Rana believes that the people who power New York should be able to afford to live, work, and thrive in New York.