Joel
Anabilah-Azumah
Republican challenger Joel Anabilah-Azumah runs for New York's 9th Congressional District in 2026
- sources
- 7
- positions
- 11
- endorsements
- 2
Background
Joel Anabilah-Azumah is a Republican candidate running for New York's 9th Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election, challenging incumbent Yvette Clarke. He appears on the Republican and Conservative lines on the New York ballot. 11113
Anabilah-Azumah holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (2005) from Union College and is a New York native based in Brooklyn. He owns and operates a transportation business and serves as head coach of the men's volleyball team at Brooklyn College Athletics, a role he was appointed to in November 2022. Prior to Brooklyn College, he coached at Iona College (from 2013), the Fashion Institute of Technology, and St. Peter's University. 15182
He has previously run for the same congressional seat in 2016 and 2018, though he has not held elected office. The FEC lists him as a challenger for New York's 9th District. 213
At a glance
- Party
- Republican
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 9, New York
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Head Coach, Men's Volleyball, Brooklyn College Athletics
- Website
- joelazumah.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Date unknownfilingFEC records show no campaign finance reports filed by Anabilah-Azumah through June 30, 2026
A race-information page listing campaign-finance figures through June 30, 2026 indicated that Anabilah-Azumah had 'No reports filed with the FEC.' No later fundraising total was found in available sources.
New York's 9th District Race 2026: Who's Running (NY-9) · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Nov 3newsAnabilah-Azumah listed as Republican candidate facing Yvette Clarke in NY-9 general election
Election guides published or updated in September and October 2026 list Anabilah-Azumah as the Republican candidate for New York's 9th Congressional District against incumbent Yvette Clarke in the November 3, 2026 general election. No ballot-access dispute or filing milestone was reported in available sources.
New York's 9th District Race 2026: Who's Running (NY-9) · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 9newsTransportAzumah launches express bus service from Kingston RI and New London CT to New York City
A press release announced that TransportAzumah, the bus company associated with Anabilah-Azumah, began express service connecting Kingston, Rhode Island, and New London, Connecticut, with New York City, citing Connecticut rail construction. The release quotes him describing the service and does not present it as part of his congressional campaign.
New Bus Service From Kingston RI & New London CT to New York City · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 15endorsementBruce Blakeman endorses Anabilah-Azumah, then distances himself after controversial posts surface
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman endorsed Anabilah-Azumah for Congress, saying he would 'make a great member of Congress.' Jewish Insider reported on September 15 that the endorsement came 'last week.' After posts surfaced in which Anabilah-Azumah alleged 9/11 was an 'inside job,' Blakeman sought to distance himself, though as of publication he had not formally withdrawn the endorsement. Newsday also reported on the endorsement and Blakeman's distancing on the same date.
Blakeman-backed House candidate defended Ye's antisemitic rants · Sep 15, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Brooklyn Conservative Party organizationListed as an endorsement on Anabilah-Azumah's iVoterGuide profile; no date given. ivoterguide.com
- Bruce Blakeman officialNassau County executive and Republican candidate for New York governor. Blakeman said Anabilah-Azumah 'would make a great member of Congress' and 'we need fighters like that in Congress.' After Anabilah-Azumah's posts about 9/11 came to light, Blakeman sought to distance himself, but had not formally retracted the endorsement as of September 15, 2026. The exact endorsement date is not reported; September 15 is the date it was reported. jewishinsider.com · Sep 15, 2026
Sources 7
- [1] New Bus Service From Kingston RI & New London CT to New York City(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [2] New York's 9th District Race 2026: Who's Running (NY-9)(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [3] Joel Anabilah-Azumah - iVoterGuide(opens in a new tab) Sep 27, 2026
- [4] Joel Anabilah-Azumah - Voter Guide(opens in a new tab) Sep 27, 2026
- [5] Blakeman-backed House candidate defended Ye's antisemitic rants(opens in a new tab) Sep 15, 2026
- [6] Joel Anabilah-Azumah for Congress(opens in a new tab) Aug 12, 2026
- [7] Joel Anabilah-Azumah for Congress(opens in a new tab) Aug 12, 2026