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 Vel\u00e1zquez, who represented the Brooklyn and Queens-based seat for three decades.<\/p>\n
Valdez\u2019s victory marks a significant win for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who endorsed her and campaigned alongside her. The race tested Mamdani\u2019s political clout just six months after his upset mayoral victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo, according to The 19th News.<\/p>\n
The 7th District encompasses young, college-educated and progressive-leaning neighborhoods in Queens and northern Brooklyn, dubbed the \u201cCommie Corridor,\u201d which powered Mamdani\u2019s mayoral campaign. While Reynoso and Valdez were largely aligned on policy, the race divided New York City\u2019s progressive left: Vel\u00e1zquez and several prominent labor unions backed Reynoso, while Mamdani, Senator Bernie Sanders, and the New York City Democratic Socialists of America endorsed Valdez.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Mamdani\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Valdez\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Sources<\/p>\n
The 19th News \u2014 Valdez\u2019s primary victory, her background as a union organizer, endorsements from Mamdani and Sanders, the role of outside spending, and the broader test of Mamdani\u2019s political influence
\nReuters \u2014 Mamdani\u2019s endorsement strategy and the test of his influence over Democratic voters
\nNBC News \u2014 Confirmation of Valdez\u2019s primary victory and Mamdani\u2019s endorsements
\nThe New York Times \u2014 Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez\u2019s retirement announcement and tenure in Congress<\/p>\n
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