NEW YORK — Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso on Monday aggressively accused Assemblywoman Claire Valdez of being “beholden” to Mayor Zohran Mamdani as their Democratic primary battle heats up for New York's 7th Congressional District.

Reynoso also suggested Mamdani is a powerful “boss” of a “political machine” in an unusual attack on Valdez, who is running with the endorsement of the mayor in the deep-blue district where the mayor enjoys a nearly 80% approval rating.

“She is beholden to the powers of the new administration, the same way all political machines are,” Reynoso said of Valdez in a forum on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer show. “Versus me, who, on Day 1, I’m able to stand up and fight and say what’s in my heart and in my conscience without having to wait for bosses to tell me how to move.”

The attack came as Reynoso lit into Valdez for what he called her slow response to a federal immigration raid on a Brooklyn hospital, which he suggested could have been due to her reluctance to criticize the NYPD’s handling of the incident until Mamdani spoke out.

“I am an ally to the Mayor, but that doesn’t mean I will fall in line with everything he does,” Reynoso said later in a statement to the Daily News. “We can support his agenda without being beholden to him.”

It’s the second time in recent weeks that Reynoso has lashed out over the alliance between Valdez and Mamdani. Last month, he called the mayor “disloyal” for snubbing his candidacy and endorsing Valdez, a fellow member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Some political analysts questioned the wisdom of Reynoso turning the race into a proxy battle over Mamdani in a congressional district where one recent poll says the mayor enjoys a 78% approval rating.

“I do not understand the thinking behind any strategy that casts such a beloved figure in the district as a villain.” said Chris Sosa, a Democratic strategist.

For their part, Mamdani and Valdez are happy to spotlight their potent political alliance. The mayor appeared in a campaign ad that aired during the Knicks game last week, which boosted Valdez along with the two other candidates he’s endorsed in Democratic congressional primaries: Brad Lander in NY-10 and Darializa Avila Chevalier in NY-13.

A spokesman for Valdez called Mamdani “Claire’s movement partner, ally and friend.”

“She’s proud to be running with his support in a district where Zohran won overwhelmingly in last year’s primary,” said Andrew Bard Epstein, the spokesman.

In NY-07, polls suggest a tight race in the June 23 fight to replace veteran Rep. Velazquez, who is retiring after more than three decades in office and endorsed Reynoso.

A recent WPIX poll showed Valdez leading by 2% over Reynoso with nearly half of voters undecided. A third candidate, Councilwoman Julie Won, lagged far behind.

The candidates also sparred over campaign fundraising and spending by outside groups in the WNYC forum, with Reynoso and Won hitting out at Valdez over super PAC spending on her behalf.

Valdez responded by boasting that she won the fundraising battle with small donors, while accusing Reynoso of taking money from real estate interests.

In an unrelated development, an umbrella group of Hasidic Jewish sects in Williamsburg endorsed Reynoso. Although a relatively small group in NY-07, Hasidic Jews have an outsized impact because they tend to vote in lockstep for candidates backed by their sects’ rabbis.

“Our diverse coalition keeps growing,” Reynoso tweeted. “Incredibly honored to have the support of so many respected Hasidic leaders and families in the district.”

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