Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and Rana Abdelhamid visiting small businesses in Long Island City Saturday (Photo: Courtesy of Van Bramer for Queens)
May 6, 2021 By Ryan Songalia
A well-known Queens progressive and an up-and-coming name in left-wing political circles announced that they have cross endorsed one another as they both seek to topple incumbents in upcoming primaries.
Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and Rana Abdelhamid, from Astoria, announced today that they are backing one another in their respective bids for office. Van Bramer is running in the Democratic primary to be the next Queens Borough President, while Abdelhamid aims to represent New York’s 12th congressional district— which covers Western Queens, North Brooklyn and the East Side of Manhattan.
The two have made the announcement just days after going on a walking tour together in Long Island City to visit small businesses.
Abdelhamid, an activist who is backed by the influential progressive group Justice Democrats, is running to unseat long-time congresswoman Carolyn Maloney next year. The 27-year-old is a marketing executive for Google’s Women Techmakers program and is also on the board of Amnesty International.
Van Bramer says she would be a “champion for progressive values in Washington” if elected.
“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,” said Van Bramer, who represents the 26th council district.
“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 Van Bramer, whose made reference to her martial arts background.
Abdelhamid holds a black belt in Shotokan karate and launched a self defense group for women.
Meanwhile, Abdelhamid cites Van Bramer’s opposition to Amazon’s planned headquarters in Queens as part of her reason for backing him in the Queens Borough President race. The position is currently held by Donovan Richards, who is seeking reelection.
“Jimmy Van Bramer is the progressive champion we need to fight for the recovery we deserve,” Abdelhamid said.
Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and Rana Abdelhamid in Sunnyside
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Not asking any questions, endorse me, I’ll endorse you. So sad, some people will do and say anything to win an election. JVB killed the Amazon deal and lost over 35000 jobs for Queens.