New York state Assemblymember Claire Valdez has announced her candidacy for the United States House of Representatives, representing the state’s seventh congressional district. The announcement marks another progressive challenge in a region where democratic socialist candidates have gained increasing prominence.
Valdez, who describes herself as a union organizer and democratic socialist, has positioned her campaign around her background in low-wage employment and labor organizing. In her announcement, she stated her intention to confront what she termed “oligarchy, fascism, and war” while advocating for working-class Americans.
The assemblymember has aligned herself closely with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose administration has drawn attention for its progressive policy positions. Valdez’s policy platform includes several proposals that place her firmly on the left wing of the Democratic Party.
Most notably, Valdez has called for the complete abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In recent public remarks, she defended previous characterizations of the current administration as fascist, statements that had drawn criticism from opponents. She went further, describing ICE as a “militarized terrorist organization that is destroying our country” and insisting that the agency must be eliminated at the federal level.
Her campaign website outlines support for Medicare for All, the single-payer healthcare proposal that would eliminate private health insurance in favor of a government-run system. This position has been a dividing line within the Democratic Party, with moderate members expressing concerns about the feasibility and cost of such a transition.
The seventh congressional district race will test whether voters in the region are prepared to send another democratic socialist to Washington. The district has historically leaned Democratic, but the question remains whether Valdez’s particular brand of progressive politics will resonate with a broader electorate beyond the party’s left flank.
Valdez’s entry into the race comes at a time when the Democratic Party continues to grapple with internal divisions between its progressive and moderate wings. While democratic socialists have achieved notable victories in certain urban districts, their success in more competitive races has been mixed.
The race will likely draw national attention as both parties watch to see whether progressive candidates can expand their appeal beyond safe Democratic districts. For Republicans, races like these serve as evidence of what they argue is the Democratic Party’s drift toward the far left. For progressive Democrats, they represent an opportunity to demonstrate that their policy positions can win in congressional contests.
As the campaign unfolds, voters in New York’s seventh district will decide whether Valdez’s message of fundamental institutional change aligns with their priorities for representation in Congress.
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