A Democrat, Velázquez served as a member of the New York City Council representing the 13th district, which covers parts of the eastern Bronx.

[3] After working for several years in accounting and corporate finance, Velázquez suffered serious injuries after multiple accidents in 2012.

[4] In 2017, Velázquez ran to succeed term-limited Democrat James Vacca in the 13th district of the New York City Council.

[10][11][12] In February 2021, however, Gjonaj announced he would not seek re-election, saying that the political climate was "not favorable to a centrist ideology that my constituency, community and I embrace.

She won the subsequent November 2021 general election with a near-identical 56.3% of the vote and took office in January 2022.