Claire Valdez, a Democratic candidate backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), has won the race for New York's 7th Congressional District, securing the seat left by retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez.

Valdez, who defeated Republican challenger Melvin Rivera, is projected to advance the DSA's growing presence in Congress. The district, known for its strong Democratic lean, had Valdez as the favored candidate.

Primary Contest and Party Divisions

The race for New York's 7th District in the June primary was seen as a proxy for the direction of the Democratic Party. Valdez, supported by the DSA and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, faced off against a field that included Antonio Reynoso, the Brooklyn borough president, who received backing from more established Democrats, including Velázquez.

Velázquez, who had held the seat since 2013 and served in Congress since 1993, expressed reservations about newcomers influencing local races without understanding the historical context of political struggles. "It’s very nice to get to New York for a few years and to have opinions about other elected officials without knowing the history and the struggle and who was there fighting corrupt government," she told The New York Times.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries commented on the internal party dynamics, noting the divide between the DSA and other New York Democrats, such as State Attorney General Letitia James. "Nydia Velázquez and a coalition of very progressive Democrats, including Tish James… along with the Working Families Party and many of the unions… are on one side of that race, with DSA on the other," Jeffries stated in June.

Valdez's Platform and DSA Support

Valdez's primary platform included promises to abolish ICE and implement a Green New Deal-style approach to climate change, alongside support for universal rent control and Medicare for All. The DSA endorsed her campaign in January, citing her commitment not to accept campaign funds from the real estate industry.

A press release from the DSA highlighted that Valdez's campaign would be powered by the same volunteer network that supported Mayor Zohran Mamdani's victory in 2025.

Another DSA-backed candidate, Darializa Avila Chevalier, also emerged victorious in a primary race, unseating Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., a high-ranking Democrat and chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. These wins have drawn criticism from some Democrats concerned about the DSA's expanding influence within the party.

Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., has been among the Democrats to voice alarm over the candidacies associated with the DSA. "I mean, you look at some of the things that people have said. Abolish prison, abolish the border, abolish ICE, I mean these crazy people — I have colleagues in my caucus that refuse to even call this out," Fetterman told Fox News Digital.

Democratic strategist Mally Smith acknowledged the district's strong Democratic leaning as a factor in Valdez's win, but cautioned that to win in competitive states, the party should nominate candidates with broader appeal. "We are a big tent party and that means there are going to be some folks on the far left who win. But for us to win in competitive red or swing states we should nominate candidates like Roy Cooper and James Talarico," Smith said.