Biography:

Nydia Velazquez was born in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, one of nine children of a sugar cane worker and his wife. She resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.

She was the first member of her family to get a high school diploma. Velazquez graduated magna cum laude from the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras in 1974. She received a master's degree in political science from New York University in 1976. She was an adjunct professor at Hunter College in New York City in the Black and Puerto Rican Studies Department, 1981-83.

In 1983, she served as a special assistant to Rep. Edolphus Towns, a Brooklyn Democrat. In 1984, she became the first Hispanic woman elected to the New York City Council. Two years later, the governor of Puerto Rico appointed Velazquez as secretary of the Department of Puerto Rican Community Affairs in the United States.

She was first elected to the U.S. House in 1992.

Velazquez is divorced.

Past Campaigns:

Nydia Velazquez was elected to the U.S. House in 1992 with 77 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Angel Diaz. She was re-elected in 1994 with 92 percent of the vote, defeating independent candidates Genevieve Brennan and Eric Ruando-Melendez.

In 1996, she was re-elected with 84 percent of the vote against Republican Michael Prado. Velazquez was re-elected in 1998, defeating Republican Rosemarie Markgraf with 85 percent of the vote.

In 2002, she faced no opposition.

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