Jewish Voter Guide
Claire Valdez
U.S. House · NY · Democrat · District 7
Summary
The Democratic nominee for New York's 7th District, Valdez is a longtime leader of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. She won her June 2026 primary decisively, taking about 58 percent to Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso's 33 percent, and was the most vocal of the candidates in that race on Israel, positioning herself to enter Congress as one of its most outspoken critics of Israel.
The record
Positions come from public votes, statements and on-the-record interviews. Every claim links to its source. No aggregate score or grade.
Genocide accusation and arms embargo
Valdez accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and was among the earliest local New York politicians to call for a ceasefire and an end to what she terms the genocide, beginning in October 2023. Her platform calls for a comprehensive arms embargo against Israel, for signing onto the Block the Bombs Act, which would halt the transfer of certain weapons, and for cutting off all United States military aid.
Support for BDS and activism
Valdez supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. She has taken part in numerous protests organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, a group that opposes Zionism, and was arrested during a 2025 demonstration at the New York offices of Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand that demanded they oppose weapons sales to Israel; she later spoke at a protest urging the incoming city comptroller, Mark Levine, to abandon a pledge to invest city funds in Israel bonds. At her campaign launch she was introduced by Mahmoud Khalil, the former Columbia University student whom federal immigration authorities detained over his role in campus protests.
Sources
- Candidacy and background — City & State New York, primary win (58 to 33 over Reynoso), Mamdani ally, DSA: https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/06/mamdani-ally-claire-valdez-captures-congressional-seat/414369/
- Candidacy and background — Campaign site, union organizer, democratic socialist, district description https://clairevaldezforcongress.com/
- Genocide accusation and arms embargo — JTA, comprehensive arms embargo and Block the Bombs, most vocal in the race, among the earliest to call it genocide: https://www.jta.org/2026/06/18/ny/in-a-ny-race-with-no-pro-israel-candidate-aipac-becomes-a-flashpoint-anyway
- Genocide accusation and arms embargo — Campaign media page, opposing further taxpayer dollars for bombs and calling for an end to the genocide early: https://clairevaldezforcongress.com/media
- Genocide accusation and arms embargo — Called Gaza a genocide and pledged to oppose all military aid: https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/06/mamdani-ally-claire-valdez-captures-congressional-seat/414369/
- Support for BDS and activism — PAL PAC endorsement (supports BDS, cut off all military aid, introduced at launch by Mahmoud Khalil, NYC-DSA, Justice Democrats, JVP Action) https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/03/pro-palestinian-pal-pac-endorses-claire-valdez-congress/412325/
- Support for BDS and activism — JTA, arrest at the Schumer and Gillibrand offices protest, JVP protests, the Israel bonds protest against Mark Levine, the Not on Our Dime cosponsorship, and the "progressive except for Palestine" line: https://www.jta.org/2026/06/18/ny/in-a-ny-race-with-no-pro-israel-candidate-aipac-becomes-a-flashpoint-anyway
A note on methodology. This guide is published as an educational reference. The American Jewish Congress does not endorse candidates and does not publish aggregate scores. If you spot a position that needs an update or a better source, please reach the office.