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Velázquez Endorses Carl Wilson as Manhattan’s District 3 Race Tests Mamdani’s Clout

The endorsement turns the West Side contest into a measure of the mayor’s pull in down-ballot races.

Overview

  • Rep. Nydia Velázquez endorsed Carl Wilson for Manhattan’s District 3 council seat, giving him a high-profile boost as early voting continues.
  • Mayor Zohran Mamdani is backing Lindsey Boylan, setting up a proxy fight between his progressive bloc and Manhattan’s local establishment.
  • The district covers Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen and the West Village, and voters will decide the ranked-choice special election on April 28.
  • Wilson, Erik Bottcher’s former chief of staff, emphasizes neighborhood work and LGBTQ representation, while Boylan campaigns on universal child care, stronger tenant protections and more funding for gender-affirming care.
  • The outcome could signal the mayor’s influence in city races and how voters balance identity and policy in a seat rooted in queer political history around the Stonewall Inn.