Claire Valdez, a democratic socialist state assemblywoman and former union organizer, won the New York 7th Congressional District Democratic primary on June 23, 2026, defeating Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Julie Won to succeed retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who represented the Brooklyn and Queens-based seat for three decades.
Valdez’s victory marks a significant win for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who endorsed her and campaigned alongside her. The race tested Mamdani’s political clout just six months after his upset mayoral victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo, according to The 19th News.
The 7th District encompasses young, college-educated and progressive-leaning neighborhoods in Queens and northern Brooklyn, dubbed the “Commie Corridor,” which powered Mamdani’s mayoral campaign. While Reynoso and Valdez were largely aligned on policy, the race divided New York City’s progressive left: Velázquez and several prominent labor unions backed Reynoso, while Mamdani, Senator Bernie Sanders, and the New York City Democratic Socialists of America endorsed Valdez.
Valdez previously worked as a clerical workers union organizer at Columbia University and a labor organizer at the United Auto Workers before her election to the state Assembly. She is staunchly pro-Palestinian and supports abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), according to The 19th News.
Mamdani’s endorsement strategy extended beyond the 7th District. He also backed democratic socialist community organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier in her primary challenge against Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the 13th District, and former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who successfully challenged Rep. Dan Goldman from the left in the Manhattan-based 10th District, Reuters reported.
The races attracted significant outside spending. American Priorities, a pro-Palestine PAC created to oppose AIPAC, spent over $450,000 in the 7th District race opposing the incumbent approach. Justice Democrats PAC spent $371,000 backing Valdez, according to The 19th News.
Valdez’s win in a safely blue district means she is the presumptive Democratic nominee for the general election in November 2026, when she will face Republican nominee Melvin Rivera, who advanced from the Republican primary without appearing on the ballot.
Sources
- The 19th News — Valdez’s primary victory, her background as a union organizer, endorsements from Mamdani and Sanders, the role of outside spending, and the broader test of Mamdani’s political influence
- Reuters — Mamdani’s endorsement strategy and the test of his influence over Democratic voters
- NBC News — Confirmation of Valdez’s primary victory and Mamdani’s endorsements
- The New York Times — Nydia Velázquez’s retirement announcement and tenure in Congress
