We met with Diana Reyna in the streets of Williamsburg, where she was actively engaging potential voters and handing out campaign literature.

She spent 12 years representing the Brooklyn neighborhood in the City Council and is now back at retail politics, running in the Democratic Primary for lieutenant governor.

Asked about what residents tell her, she said: “That we are with you. People are happy to see me back in politics.”

What You Need To Know

  • Reyna represented a Brooklyn district in the City Council for 12 years

  • She also served as Deputy Brooklyn Borough President under Eric Adams

  • She takes offense at how rival Antonio Delgado has presented himself as Afro-Latino
  • In 2001, Reyna was the first Dominican American woman elected to office in New York state

After leaving the Council in 2013, Reyna served as Deputy Brooklyn Borough President with Eric Adams.

Congressman Tom Suozzi, who’s running for governor, tapped her to share the ticket, in a campaign around one major issue: public safety.

“Fixing bail reform right now is an issue. We are seeing criminals come in and out,” Reyna said.

One of her rivals in the race, Ana María Archila, says Reyna is fear mongering.

“My son just last week was told that they had a lock in because there was a shooting right outside their school. I don’t consider that to be fear mongering. As a mother, I think all mothers fear that their child may be hurt on their way home from school,” Reyna said.

Back in 2001, Reyna was the first Dominican American woman elected to office in New York state.

She says she takes offense at how the current lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, who is running in the primary with Gov. Kathy Hochul, has described himself as Black, Cape Verdean and Afro-Latino.

“To just claim that he is or may be of Latino roots as an Afro-Latino, and I know that the governor has taken advantage of representing him as such, as Afro-Latino,” Reyna said.

Delgado spent three years in Congress before becoming lieutenant governor and this is Archila’s first run for office.

Reyna says her 16 years in government makes her the most qualified candidate in the race.

Asked about whether she sees herself as a conservative Democrat, she said: “I consider myself to be a Democrat who includes everyone, whether you are conservative, moderate, liberal, progressive, you know, today we have Democratic Socialists. Since when do we have Democratic Socialists?”