Claire Valdez, a New York Assemblymember aligned with Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has declared a run for the open U.S. House seat in NY-07, bringing a platform built on union organizing, democratic socialism, and sweeping policy proposals like abolishing ICE and Medicare for All. Her campaign pitches a stark contrast with mainstream approaches and sets up a contentious Democratic primary as the seat opens up.
Valdez announced her congressional bid from a background rooted in labor organizing and local government, pitching herself as a voice for low-wage workers and the labor movement. Her ties to Mayor Zohran Mamdani are already part of the story, positioning her inside a progressive network that has reshaped conversations in parts of the city.
“I’m a union organizer, Assemblymember, and democratic socialist running for Congress in NY-07. I came to politics through low-wage jobs and the labor movement. That’s the perspective I’ll bring to Washington to take on oligarchy, fascism, and war — and win for working people,” she wrote in a
https://x.com/claireforny/status/2009234798607552543
That message is straightforward and unapologetic, aimed squarely at voters who want aggressive change rather than incremental reform. For Republican observers, the language signals a campaign that will push for big-government solutions and a confrontational style on federal policy.
On immigration enforcement, Valdez has been explicit and uncompromising in her demands, calling for the federal dismantling of ICE. “We must abolish ICE at the federal level,” she asserted, calling it a “militarized terrorist organization that is destroying our country.”
That stance tightens the ideological divide in the race and will make immigration a central battleground. Critics will argue that eliminating the agency outright ignores practical challenges and border realities, while supporters will applaud the move as bold and necessary reform.
“When we called this administration fascist last year, we were called hyperbolic. We were called hysterical,” she
The rhetoric is charged and designed to mobilize a base that sees current institutions as deeply problematic. From a Republican perspective, such language also risks alienating moderate voters and fueling concerns about stability and governance among swing constituencies.
Valdez’s economic and social agenda includes universal health care through Medicare for All, a plan she says would be funded by taxing billionaires and corporations. “Claire will fight to pass Medicare for All, paid for by taxing billionaires and corporations that have rigged the system, and deliver universal health care for every New Yorker,” the site notes.
That pledge frames health care as an entitlement to be delivered by federal overhaul rather than incremental policy changes. Republicans will view the funding promises skeptically and warn about the potential tax burdens and disruptions to current coverage models.
Housing policy also features prominently in her platform, framed as a fundamental right rather than an economic good. “Housing is a human right — but Congress has chosen to side with landlords and speculators instead of working people. Claire will fight to guarantee safe, affordable housing for all, because housing is not a commodity. It’s a necessity,” the site also states.
This language aims to tap into widespread frustration over affordability in the city, but it also suggests a policy trajectory that could involve sweeping regulation and pressure on property owners. Expect fierce debates about property rights, market impacts, and the balance between tenant protections and investment incentives.
Valdez will enter a Democratic primary for the seat being vacated by Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who is not seeking re-election in 2026, and faces established local figures already positioning for the contest. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso has already announced his primary bid, turning NY-07 into a competitive and high-profile fight.
The contest will test whether Valdez’s unapologetic democratic socialist message can carry in a district that is diverse and politically complex. For Republican analysts, her candidacy sharpens the contrast ahead of 2026 and provides a clear example of the choices voters will face about direction and governance.
Graduate Student, wife, engaged political and legal writer.