Diamant Hysenaj
Hysenaj is a construction-company owner and Kosovo-born immigrant who fled to the Bronx with his family in 1991. He is campaigning on housing, lower health-care costs, immigration reform, and public safety, arguing Ocasio-Cortez has not been sufficiently present in the district.[9][10][11]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Positions on the issues
- MixedExpand immigration enforcement and deportations
Calls for a system that is "tough but fair," combining secure borders with faster legal citizenship pathways, rather than expanded enforcement alone.[10]
“I'll demand a system that's tough but fair: secure borders, faster citizenship for the law-abiding, and real support for our neighborhoods.”
- SupportsLoosen zoning rules to build more housing
Campaigns on his experience as a construction-company owner to expand affordable housing supply and improve housing quality.[10]
“Affordable Rent. Quality Homes. I'm a small business owner in construction, no one knows housing better than me.”
- SupportsIncrease police funding and staffing
Lists public safety and "safe streets" among his priorities for the district.[10]
“Safe streets, so kids can play outside again.”
- MixedExpand public health coverage
Says he would lower health-care costs by reducing waste and fraud in existing programs, without specifying support for expanding public coverage.[10]
“Lower your healthcare costs. Get rid of waste and fraud, giving back to the people, not the insurance companies.”
In their words — priorities
- "Affordable Rent. Quality Homes. I'm a small business owner in construction, no one knows housing better than me. I have created jobs right here in the district and improved living conditions for everyday New Yorkers."[10]
- "Immigration that works. ... I'll demand a system that's tough but fair: secure borders, faster citizenship for the law-abiding, and real support for our neighborhoods."[10]
- "Lower your healthcare costs. Get rid of waste and fraud, giving back to the people, not the insurance companies."[10]
- "Safe streets, so kids can play outside again."[10]
- Says NY-14 needs "a congressperson that is present," criticizing Ocasio-Cortez's national profile and fundraising over what he describes as unaddressed local job losses.[11]
Background
- Born in Kosovo in 1982; fled with his family to the Bronx in 1991 at age nine as conflict spread in the former Yugoslavia.[9]
- Began working by age 11 doing paper routes, snow shoveling, and construction alongside his father; earned an associate's degree.[9]
- Founded a construction company in 2005 that closed during the 2008 financial crisis; founded DCG New York Inc. in 2014, which he says has contributed to more than one million square feet of residential and commercial development in New York City.[9]
- Married since 2017; lives in New York raising two children with his wife, Tereza.[9]
Campaign money
Raised $343K · spent $312K · $31K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗