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D Democratic; Working Families · U.S. House 7, New York · Nov 3, 2026

Claire
Valdez

Democratic nominee for NY-7 and Queens Assemblymember, former UAW organizer and visual artist

Researched checked 6 d ago
sources
18
positions
10
endorsements
42
clairevaldezforcongress.com ↗(opens in a new tab) X(opens in a new tab)Facebook(opens in a new tab)Instagram(opens in a new tab)
Opponents Melvin Rivera R+ 1 more Compare race →

Background

Claire Valdez is the Democratic nominee for New York's 7th Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election, running for an open seat. She currently serves as a New York State Assemblymember for the 37th District in Queens, having been elected to that office in 2024. [12, 14, 16]

Valdez grew up in Lubbock, Texas, and moved to New York City in 2015 to pursue art. She studied painting and art history at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Before entering politics, she held service-industry jobs at Taco Bell, Trader Joe's, and Pizza Hut, and later worked in the visual arts department at Columbia University. 24

She was active in UAW Local 2110, serving on her unit's bargaining committee and as unit chair beginning in 2022. Her background in labor organizing and the arts has been central to her political identity. [14, 24]

Valdez won the Democratic primary for NY-7 in June 2026. ICT News also reported on her as a potential Indigenous woman headed to Congress. Her campaign focuses on issues including workers' rights and arts advocacy. [6, 15, 18]

At a glance

Party
Democratic; Working Families
Running for
U.S. House · District 7, New York
Election
Nov 3, 2026
Current office
New York State Assemblymember, 37th District
Website
clairevaldezforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)

Where they stand

Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.

Timeline

  1. Oct 5
    news
    Valdez pitches 'Trans Bill of Rights' and other priorities on Hell Gate podcast

    In a conversation reported by Newsmax, Valdez named priorities including 'the war,' 'the genocide, Medicare for all, [and a] Trans Bill of Rights,' without elaborating on specific contents of the Trans Bill of Rights.

    Dem Socialist Valdez Pitches 'Trans Bill of Rights' · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  2. Oct 1
    endorsement
    Actors' Equity Association endorses Valdez for Congress

    The Actors' Equity Association National Council endorsed Valdez alongside Brad Lander and Darializa Avila Chevalier for United States Congress.

    Actors’ Equity Association Endorses Darializa Avila Chevalier ... · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sep 18
    endorsement
    New York State Nurses Association and National Nurses United jointly endorse Valdez

    NYSNA and NNU announced a joint endorsement of Valdez. She said she was proud to receive the endorsement and looked forward to fighting alongside them in Congress.

    New York State Nurses Association · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  4. Jun 23
    news
    Claire Valdez wins Democratic primary for New York's 7th Congressional District

    Valdez won the June 23 Democratic primary, securing the Democratic nomination for NY-7, according to ballot coverage and October reporting.

    New York's 7th Congressional District, 2026 - KnowYourReps · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Endorsements

  • Gays Get Political organization
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Sarahana Shrestha, Assembly Member official
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Our Revolution organization
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Jewish Voice for Peace Action organization
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Planned Parenthood Action Fund organization
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Jabari Brisport, New York State Senator official
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Marcela Mitaynes, Assembly Member official
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Leaders We Deserve organization
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Organization of Staff Analysts union
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • PAL PAC organization
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Kristen Gonzalez, New York State Senator official
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • OPEIU Local 153 union
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Emgage Action organization
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Muslim Democratic Club of NY organization
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Jamaal Bowman, former U.S. Representative official
    Listed by the campaign; no dated announcement found in sources reviewed. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Diana Moreno, Assembly Member official
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Justice Democrats organization
    Listed by the campaign; reported as supporting Valdez by June 17, 2026, but no specific endorsement date found. prospect.org
  • AFGE Local 3369 union
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • DRUM Beats organization
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Common Defense organization
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Mike Gianaris, New York State Senator official
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Chi Ossé, City Council Member official
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Progressive Change Campaign Committee organization
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1 union
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action organization
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Emily Gallagher, Assembly Member official
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Shahana Hanif, City Council Member official
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Sunrise Movement organization
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • CIR/SEIU union
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Voters for Animal Rights organization
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Ro Khanna, U.S. Representative official
    Listed by the campaign; no dated announcement found in sources reviewed. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Phara Souffrant Forrest, Assembly Member official
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • New York City Democratic Socialists of America (NYC DSA) organization
    Listed by the campaign; reported as supporting Valdez by June 17, 2026, but no specific endorsement date found. prospect.org
  • International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers union
    Listed by the campaign; no endorsement date provided. clairevaldezforcongress.com
  • Actors' Equity Association union
    Announced endorsement on October 1, 2026. broadwayworld.com · Oct 1, 2026
  • National Nurses United (NNU) union
    Co-endorsed Valdez alongside NYSNA on September 18, 2026. nationalnursesunited.org · Sep 18, 2026
  • New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) union
    Co-endorsed Valdez alongside National Nurses United on September 18, 2026. nationalnursesunited.org · Sep 18, 2026
  • Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) union
    Endorsed Valdez on May 29, 2026, per UAW Region 9A's announcement. The campaign also lists AFA-CWA international president Sara Nelson. region9a.uaw.org · May 29, 2026
  • Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator official
    Endorsed Valdez per amNY reporting. amny.com · Apr 2, 2026
  • UAW Region 9A union
    Listed alongside UAW in the January 9, 2026 endorsement announcement. uaw.org · Jan 9, 2026
  • Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City official
    Mamdani said, "That's the kind of partner I need in Congress, and why I'm proud to endorse her." cityandstateny.com · Jan 9, 2026
  • United Auto Workers (UAW) union
    UAW announced its endorsement on January 9, 2026. uaw.org · Jan 9, 2026

Campaign finance

Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.

Raised
$1.69M
Spent
$1.49M
Cash on hand
$207K

As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6NY07214(opens in a new tab)

Sources 18

  1. [1] Endorsements | Claire Valdez for Congress(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
  2. [2] Claire Valdez — official campaign website(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
  3. [3] A Livable Planet for All(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
  4. [4] Dem Socialist Valdez Pitches 'Trans Bill of Rights'(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
  5. [5] International Solidarity, Not War and Genocide(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
  6. [6] Issues(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
  7. [7] Endorsements - Claire Valdez for Congress(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
  8. [8] New York's 7th Congressional District, 2026 - KnowYourReps(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
  9. [9] Actors’ Equity Association Endorses Darializa Avila Chevalier ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
  10. [10] Actors' Equity Association Endorses Three Candidates for ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
  11. [11] New York State Nurses Association(opens in a new tab) Sep 18, 2026
  12. [12] New York State Nurses Association and ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 18, 2026
  13. [13] Claire Valdez, Democratic candidate for Congress: 'We have to plan ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 12, 2026
  14. [14] In New York’s ‘Commie Corridor,’ a Race Over How to Build Power - The American Prospect(opens in a new tab) Jun 17, 2026
  15. [15] Bernie Sanders wades into NY-7 race to back Mamdani's ...(opens in a new tab) Apr 3, 2026
  16. [16] Can Claire Valdez unite socialists and labor unions?(opens in a new tab) Jan 13, 2026
  17. [17] AFA-CWA & President Sara Nelson Endorse UAW’s Claire Valdez ...(opens in a new tab) Jan 9, 2026
  18. [18] UAW Endorses Union Member Claire Valdez for Congress ...(opens in a new tab) Jan 9, 2026
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