Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined Democratic candidates Claire Valdez and David Orkin for a rally on the border of Woodhaven and Ozone Park Saturday to kick off early voting and get out the vote efforts in the neighborhood.

Mamdani joined Orkin, the Democratic nominee in Assembly District 38, and Valdez, the Democratic nominee in the 7th Congressional District, for an Oct. 24 rally at London Planetree Playground, with union members and volunteers also joining for efforts to knock on doors throughout the neighborhoods.

Mamdani described both Orkin and Valdez as champions of the working-class who would fight for workers in Albany and Washington.

“We need more people in office for whom their track record is fighting for workers and who dream of continuing that fight. And David, we have the opportunity to send someone to Albany who is exactly that kind of champion,” Mamdani said at the rally. “We’ve seen another champion who was just in Albany with that very kind of track record in Assemblywoman Claire (Valdez) … and we are so excited, so excited that we have the chance to send Claire Valdez to Washington.”

Union members joined Mamdani at the rally, including representatives from the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council; OPEIU Local 153; PSC-CUNY; UAW Region 9A; Workers United NY NJ, SEIU; and 32BJ SEIU.

Megan Wylie, political director at HTC, said both Orkin and Valdez would be at the forefront of the “fight for better wages” for working-class New Yorkers.

“The next 10 days are more important than ever before. We know that Claire will stand up for workers and be that voice in Washington, and we know that David will be that voice in Albany,” Wylie said.

Both Valdez and Orkin touted their union roots during Saturday’s rally, pointing to the importance of a strong labor movement and a high voter turnout.

“My union, like every good union, taught me how to organize my coworkers … for the dignity on the shop floor that we deserve. But it also taught me that what we win at the bargaining table can be taken away at the ballot box,” Valdez said.

Early voting for the 2026 elections began on Saturday, Oct. 24, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 1. The general elections will take place on Nov. 3.

Both Orkin and Valdez recorded resounding victories in the Democratic primary in June, with Orkin triumphing over incumbent Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar and Valdez defeating Council Member Julie Won and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso in the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez.