Claire Valdez
Claire Valdez | |
|---|---|
Valdez in 2025 | |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 37th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Juan Ardila |
| Parliamentary group | New York State Socialists in Office |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 12, 1989 Lubbock, Texas, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic Socialists of America |
Claire Valdez is an American politician serving as a member of the New York State Assembly representing the 37th District since 2025. A Democrat, she represents part of Queens.
Career
Valdez served as a program assistant in the visual arts program at Columbia University before the beginning of her term as an assembly member.[1] She was an organizer with United Auto Workers and is an activist with the New York City chapter of Democratic Socialists of America.[2][3]
In the 2024 New York State Assembly election, Valdez was a candidate in the 37th district. In the Democratic Party primary, Valdez defeated Johanna Carmona by 27 percentage points and incumbent Juan Ardila by 48 percentage points.[4] She was endorsed by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and had the support from the Working Families Party.[5][6] She ran unopposed for the seat in the November general election.
Amid the investigations into NYC Mayor Eric Adams, she publicly called for his resignation.[7] She endorsed Zohran Mamdani in the 2025 New York City mayoral election.[8]
Personal life
Originally from Lubbock, Texas, Valdez moved to New York City in 2015 and lives in Ridgewood, Queens.[9][10][11] She is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and Socialist Majority Caucus.[12]
Electoral history
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Claire Valdez | 4,075 | 58.6 | |
| Democratic | Johanna Carmona | 2,179 | 31.3 | |
| Democratic | Juan Ardila (incumbent) | 675 | 9.7 | |
| Write-in | 21 | 0.3 | ||
| Total votes | 6,951 | |||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Claire Valdez | 26,527 | ||
| Working Families | Claire Valdez | 7,766 | ||
| Total | Claire Valdez | 34,293 | 98.5 | |
| Write-in | 533 | 1.5 | ||
| Total votes | 34,826 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
- ^ "A worker first, unionist second, Valdez seeks Queens Assembly seat". The Chief. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "This Union Organizer Is Hoping to Expand Socialists' Electoral Stronghold in Queens". jacobin.com. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ Andres, Czarinna (June 26, 2024). "Claire Valdez takes Assembly District 37 race in western Queens, championing Democratic socialism – QNS". qns.com. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ Krichevsky, Sophie (June 27, 2024). "Valdez wins AD 37 race by 27 points". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ zgewelb (November 16, 2023). "Working Families Party endorses Claire Valdez in race to unseat Assemblymember Juan Ardila". Queens Post. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ Andres, Czarinna (May 23, 2024). "AOC endorses fellow Democratic Socialist Claire Valdez for New York Assembly District 37". Queens Post. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "With Eric Adams refusing to resign, who is calling for him to be removed from office?". City & State NY. February 14, 2025. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
- ^ "Zohran Mamdani endorsed by (most) socialist lawmakers". City & State NY. March 13, 2025. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
- ^ Jefferson, Austin (January 17, 2025). "Meet the 2025 class of new state lawmakers". City & State. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
- ^ "Queens voters head to polls in Assembly District 37 Democratic primary". ny1.com. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ Parry, Bill (August 30, 2023). "Ridgewood woman launches campaign to unseat scandal-scarred Assemblyman Juan Ardila – QNS". qns.com. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ López, Álvaro; Turner, David (October 16, 2024). "For A Fighting & Winning NYC-DSA". The Agitator. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
- ^ "Primary Election 2024 - Democratic Member of the Assembly - 37th Assembly District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
- ^ "General Election 2024 - Member of the Assembly - 37th Assembly District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2024.