Photo: s3.amazonaws.comNY · Officeholder
DAssembly Member · District 37
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: U.S. House · New York's 7th Congressional District
Claire Valdez is the Democratic and Working Families Party nominee in the open NY-7 race. A Texas native who moved to New York City in 2015, she worked at Columbia University, became a union unit chair with UAW Local 2110, and was elected to the New York State Assembly (District 37) in 2024. She describes herself as a democratic socialist and is running on labor organizing, universal rent control, Medicare for All, and abolishing ICE.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Valdez is originally from Lubbock, Texas, where she was born in 1989, according to Wikipedia.[4] She moved to New York City in 2015 to pursue a career as a visual artist, according to a New York Daily News profile, and holds a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, per Wikipedia.[4][5] She took an administrative job at Columbia University, where she became active in her union, United Auto Workers Local 2110.[4][5] As a union organizer she served on the bargaining committee of UAW Local 2110 at Columbia, was elected Unit Chair in 2022 to represent about 500 coworkers, and took part in the effort to elect reform candidates to UAW leadership, according to her Assembly biography.[2][7]
Valdez joined the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America in 2019, per Wikipedia, and her campaign website describes her as a "proud democratic socialist."[4][6] She won the June 2024 Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 37 over Johanna Carmona and incumbent Juan Ardila, then the November 2024 general election, and took office on January 1, 2025.[2][4][7][8] The district includes Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Maspeth, and Ridgewood.[7][8] Her Assembly committee assignments for 2025-2026 are Alcoholism and Drug Abuse; Cities; Social Services; Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development; and Transportation.[2]
Valdez announced her campaign for Congress in January 2026 after Rep. Nydia Velázquez announced her retirement.[1][4] She won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary over Antonio Reynoso, Julie Won, and Vichal Kumar.[1][4][9] Her congressional campaign has been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the Justice Democrats, and NYC-DSA.[2][6] She lives in Ridgewood, Queens, according to her Assembly biography.[7]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. How topics are assigned
Most contested
Amends provisions limiting the location of retail adult-use dispensaries in proximity to schools and houses of worship.
Feb 11, 2026 · Passed Assembly 91–50Official record ↗
Enacts into law major components of legislation necessary to implement the state public protection and general government budget for the 2026-2027 state fiscal year; extends the recruitment incentive and retention program for certain active members of the New York army national guard, New York air national guard, and New York naval militia until 2031 (Part A); extends the suspension of the subsidy to the state emergency services revolving loan fund from the public safety communications surcharge until the end of the 2027--2028 state fiscal year (Part B); establishes crimes related to utilizing three-dimensional printers for manufacturing ghost guns and firearm components (Subpart A); provides for firearm prevention technology requirements for three-dimensional printers (Subpart B)(Part C); establishes the crimes of unlawful use of a drone; establishes "the New York state blue list" requiring that the state, its agencies, and any political subdivisions of the state only buy drones and drone mitigation technology from vendors listed on such registry (Part D); relates to the definition of insurance fraud (Part F); extends temporary orders of protection issued simultaneously with the issuance of a warrant until the defendant subsequently appears in court pursuant to such warrant or voluntarily or otherwise, unless the matter is dismissed (Part H); authorizes the liquor authority to change the duration of certain licenses (Subpart A); extends motion picture theater liquor licenses (Subpart B); prohibits wholesalers from assessing certain fees on retailers (Subpart C) (Part O); increases the frequency of education and training in ethics and lobbying; imposes fees for failure to complete training by the required timeframes (Part U); establishes dedicated workers' compensation fraud units within New York state district attorneys' office (Part W); specifies which providers are authorized to render certain medical care (Part X); increases certain purchasing and advertising thresholds to one hundred fifty thousand dollars (Part Y); relates to lobbyist registration fees (Part Z); requires the superintendent of state police to develop, maintain, and disseminate to all members of the division of state police a critical incident paid leave policy (Part AA); extends provisions related to the monetary threshold for certain restrictions on procurement contracts until 2028 (Part BB); extends the effectiveness of certain provisions relating to purchasing of services and commodities by the state (Part CC); repeals provisions that authorize proceedings to revert to the original court of record when a defendant fails to comply with or complete the mental health court program (Part GG); extends certain provisions constituting the New York State community commission on reparations remedies; relates to extending the time the New York State community commission on reparations remedies has to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the legislature and the governor; relates to the status of members of the commission (Part HH); requires prior approval for rate increases for certain policies covering losses or liabilities arising out of the ownership of a motor vehicle (Part II); prohibits the use of employment, education, homeownership, and zip code for determining private passenger motor vehicle insurance rates (Part JJ); extends provisions related to the operation and administration of the legislature (Part KK); enacts the "Local Cops, Local Crimes Act" (Subpart A); enacts the "New York state Bivens act" (Subpart B); restricts action state and municipal employees can take regarding immigration enforcement (Subpart C); prohibits children from being denied access to a free public education due to citizenship or immigration status and other prohibited practices (Subpart D); enacts the "sensitive location protection act" (Subpart E); prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing any mask or personal disguise while interacting with the public in the performance of their duties (Subpart F); creates a new immigrant trust office within the department of law (Subpart G); establishes certain procedures for child care programs for certain children who cannot be picked up as scheduled (Subpart H) (Part LL); extends the term and authority of the independent monitor for the Orange county industrial development agency; requires such monitor also monitor the Orange county funding corporation; modifies the applicability of certain tax exemptions based on population; extends provisions of law related to the independent monitor for the Orange county industrial development agency (Part MM); provides a period of probable usefulness of five years for certain police emergency response vehicles (Part NN); provides for appointments to a city charter revision commission by an incoming mayor (Part OO).
May 21, 2026 · Passed Assembly 93–47Official record ↗
Relates to the attorney general's ability to protect New Yorkers from unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices.
Feb 25, 2026 · Passed Assembly 94–48Official record ↗
Most contested
Relates to requirements for the provision of medication for medical aid in dying
Relates to requirements for medical professionals and health care facilities that provide medication to patients for medical aid in dying; extends the initial effectiveness of certain provisions relating thereto.
Feb 4, 2026 · Passed Assembly 83–62Official record ↗
Requires children enrolled in an overnight camp, summer day camp, or travelling summer day camp to be vaccinated against a specified list of diseases.
Apr 28, 2026 · Passed Assembly 90–47Official record ↗
Provides liability protections for health care providers who issue vaccines
Provides liability protections for health care providers who issue vaccines so long as such vaccination does not arise out of willful misconduct or gross negligence.
Apr 28, 2026 · Passed Assembly 90–47Official record ↗
Most contested
Provides that an accusatory instrument or supporting deposition consisting of factual allegations by a deponent with limited English proficiency is not sufficient unless accompanied by a sworn statement from an interpreter affirming the accuracy of the English interpretation.
Apr 28, 2026 · Passed Assembly 83–53Official record ↗
Relates to procedures for protections of legally protected health activities
Specifies that professional liability insurance insurers cannot deny coverage or increase rates solely based on legal use or prescription of certain gender-affirming care-related drugs; prescribes procedures for warrants issued in other jurisdictions for electronic data related to legally protected health activities; provides for additional procedural methods for protection of legally protected health activities.
Mar 31, 2026 · Passed Assembly 93–52Official record ↗
Enacts into law major components of legislation necessary to implement the state public protection and general government budget for the 2026-2027 state fiscal year; extends the recruitment incentive and retention program for certain active members of the New York army national guard, New York air national guard, and New York naval militia until 2031 (Part A); extends the suspension of the subsidy to the state emergency services revolving loan fund from the public safety communications surcharge until the end of the 2027--2028 state fiscal year (Part B); establishes crimes related to utilizing three-dimensional printers for manufacturing ghost guns and firearm components (Subpart A); provides for firearm prevention technology requirements for three-dimensional printers (Subpart B)(Part C); establishes the crimes of unlawful use of a drone; establishes "the New York state blue list" requiring that the state, its agencies, and any political subdivisions of the state only buy drones and drone mitigation technology from vendors listed on such registry (Part D); relates to the definition of insurance fraud (Part F); extends temporary orders of protection issued simultaneously with the issuance of a warrant until the defendant subsequently appears in court pursuant to such warrant or voluntarily or otherwise, unless the matter is dismissed (Part H); authorizes the liquor authority to change the duration of certain licenses (Subpart A); extends motion picture theater liquor licenses (Subpart B); prohibits wholesalers from assessing certain fees on retailers (Subpart C) (Part O); increases the frequency of education and training in ethics and lobbying; imposes fees for failure to complete training by the required timeframes (Part U); establishes dedicated workers' compensation fraud units within New York state district attorneys' office (Part W); specifies which providers are authorized to render certain medical care (Part X); increases certain purchasing and advertising thresholds to one hundred fifty thousand dollars (Part Y); relates to lobbyist registration fees (Part Z); requires the superintendent of state police to develop, maintain, and disseminate to all members of the division of state police a critical incident paid leave policy (Part AA); extends provisions related to the monetary threshold for certain restrictions on procurement contracts until 2028 (Part BB); extends the effectiveness of certain provisions relating to purchasing of services and commodities by the state (Part CC); repeals provisions that authorize proceedings to revert to the original court of record when a defendant fails to comply with or complete the mental health court program (Part GG); extends certain provisions constituting the New York State community commission on reparations remedies; relates to extending the time the New York State community commission on reparations remedies has to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the legislature and the governor; relates to the status of members of the commission (Part HH); requires prior approval for rate increases for certain policies covering losses or liabilities arising out of the ownership of a motor vehicle (Part II); prohibits the use of employment, education, homeownership, and zip code for determining private passenger motor vehicle insurance rates (Part JJ); extends provisions related to the operation and administration of the legislature (Part KK); enacts the "Local Cops, Local Crimes Act" (Subpart A); enacts the "New York state Bivens act" (Subpart B); restricts action state and municipal employees can take regarding immigration enforcement (Subpart C); prohibits children from being denied access to a free public education due to citizenship or immigration status and other prohibited practices (Subpart D); enacts the "sensitive location protection act" (Subpart E); prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing any mask or personal disguise while interacting with the public in the performance of their duties (Subpart F); creates a new immigrant trust office within the department of law (Subpart G); establishes certain procedures for child care programs for certain children who cannot be picked up as scheduled (Subpart H) (Part LL); extends the term and authority of the independent monitor for the Orange county industrial development agency; requires such monitor also monitor the Orange county funding corporation; modifies the applicability of certain tax exemptions based on population; extends provisions of law related to the independent monitor for the Orange county industrial development agency (Part MM); provides a period of probable usefulness of five years for certain police emergency response vehicles (Part NN); provides for appointments to a city charter revision commission by an incoming mayor (Part OO).
May 21, 2026 · Passed Assembly 93–47Official record ↗
Most contested
Relates to the effectiveness of provisions of law relating to providing that in the case of any application for gas service to a building which is not supplied with gas, a utility corporation or municipality shall be obligated to provide gas service to such building.
Mar 31, 2026 · Passed Assembly 83–61Official record ↗
Relates to rechargeable battery recycling
Relates to rechargeable battery recycling.
Feb 10, 2026 · Passed Assembly 97–46Official record ↗
Establishes the electric landscaping equipment rebate program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and reduce noise pollution by promoting the adoption of quieter, zero-emission landscaping equipment; provides for rebates at the point of sale for applicants purchasing or leasing certain equipment; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof.
Apr 20, 2026 · Passed Assembly 99–42Official record ↗
Most contested
Requires children enrolled in an overnight camp, summer day camp, or travelling summer day camp to be vaccinated against a specified list of diseases.
Apr 28, 2026 · Passed Assembly 90–47Official record ↗
Requires name and contact information to be provided in certain calls made to the statewide central register of child abuse and maltreatment.
Jan 29, 2026 · Passed Assembly 98–36Official record ↗
Enacts into law major components of legislation necessary to implement the state education, labor, housing and family assistance budget for the 2026-2027 state fiscal year; relates to contracts for excellence, foundation aid, the homeless and foster count, renewable energy projects, zero-emissions school buses and to apportioning aid for universal prekindergarten; relates to reimbursement for the 2026-2027 school year and the maximum contract hours, withholding a portion of employment preparation education aid, and the effectiveness thereof; relates to the use of apportionments for the EXCEL program and the effectiveness thereof; relates to maximum class sizes for special classes for certain students with disabilities; provides for special apportionment for salary expenses; provides for special apportionment for public pension accruals; amends provisions relating to the apportionment amount for the Roosevelt union free school district; provides for set-asides from the state funds which certain districts are receiving from the total foundation aid; provides for support of public libraries; repeals certain provisions relating to the statewide universal full-day prekindergarten program (Part A); relates to evidence-based instructional practices in the subject of mathematics for students in kindergarten through grade five (Part B); relates to the eligibility of students enrolled in an approved program leading to a degree in a high demand field for the New York opportunity promise scholarship (Part C); allows for the chancellor of SUNY and CUNY to impose differential tuition rates on non-resident undergraduate and graduate students until the 2028-2029 academic year (Part E); relates to early childhood educator eligibility for the masters-in-education teacher incentive scholarship program (Part F); changes the name of the "New York state musical instrument revolving fund" to the "New York state music grant fund"; includes musical education in school districts and boards of cooperative educational services within not-for-profit musical entities incorporated in the state and organized for the purpose of the presentation of performing arts for the benefit of the public (Part G); extends provisions of law relating to restructuring financing for residential school placements (Part K); increases the standards of monthly need for aged, blind and disabled persons living in the community (Part L); utilizes reserves in the mortgage insurance fund for the neighborhood preservation program, the rural preservation program, the rural rental assistance program, and the New York state supportive housing program, the solutions to end homelessness program or the operational support for AIDS housing program (Part M); increases the number of land banks which can simultaneously exist in the state of New York from 35 to 45 (Part N); authorizes a tax abatement for alterations and improvements to multiple dwellings for purposes of preserving habitability in affordable housing (Part O); relates to establishing the crime of aggravated harassment of a rent regulated tenant (Part P); renumbers the disparate impact standard for housing and employment in the human rights law (Part Q); defines eligible multiple dwelling under the affordable New York housing program; includes a multiple dwelling that is located on a parcel of land which was part of a tract of land for which a special permit for a large scale general development was approved via the uniform land use review procedure on or before June 15, 2022, and such tract contains a multiple dwelling for which the commencement date is after December 31, 2015 and on or before June 15, 2022 and complies with certain affordability options (Part R).
May 20, 2026 · Passed Assembly 119–25Official record ↗
Most contested
Prohibits landlords from including incorrect information relating to rent decontrol in certain leases and renewals thereof; imposes a violation punishable by a fine of $1000 for a violation by a landlord; requires the standardization of certain notices pertaining to units subject to the Affordable New York Housing Program.
May 5, 2026 · Passed Assembly 89–50Official record ↗
Requires the modification of restrictive covenants prior to the sale of real property
Requires the modification of restrictive covenants prior to the sale of real property when covenants, conditions and restrictions exist which discriminate on the basis of a protected class in violation of state or federal law.
Feb 3, 2026 · Passed Assembly 95–46Official record ↗
Requires manufactured home park owners to provide a written justification for rent increases in excess of three percent of the current rent; provides that increases in costs to justify such rent increase for ordinary maintenance or repair to meet the warranty of habitability obligations must be shown to be necessary.
Apr 20, 2026 · Passed Assembly 98–43Official record ↗
Most contested
Establishes a comprehensive electric vehicle fast charging station implementation plan; requires the New York state energy and research development authority to further establish a "Fast Charge NY working group" to develop such plan; makes related provisions.
Mar 18, 2026 · Passed Assembly 108–35Official record ↗
Provides that a rental vehicle company or peer-to-peer car sharing program administrator may act as an agent for an authorized insurer with respect to accident and health insurance that provides coverage to shared vehicle owners, shared vehicle drivers, or a combination thereof, and any other coverage that the superintendent of financial services may approve as meaningful and appropriate in connection with the sharing of a shared vehicle.
Feb 10, 2026 · Passed Assembly 101–42Official record ↗
Extends provisions of law permitting adjudications and owner liability for a violation of traffic-control signal indications in the village of Pelham Manor.
May 4, 2026 · Passed Assembly 113–22Official record ↗
Most contested
Relates to requiring utility pole owners and attachers to submit an annual report on pole attachments; repeals certain provisions relating to requirements for right-of-way permits.
Jan 13, 2026 · Passed Assembly 138–5Official record ↗
Relates to transparency and safety requirements for developers of artificial intelligence models
Implements transparency requirements for developers of AI models; requires the establishment of an office for oversite of AI model developer transparency and reporting; makes related provisions.
Mar 11, 2026 · Passed Assembly 140–2Official record ↗
Establishes the artificial intelligence training data transparency act
Establishes the artificial intelligence training data transparency act requiring developers of generative artificial intelligence models or services to post on the developer's website information regarding the data used by the developer to train the generative artificial intelligence model or service, including a high-level summary of the datasets used in the development of such system or service.
May 5, 2026 · Passed Assembly 138–1Official record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 1 of 51 party-divided votes on file.
Enacts into law major components of legislation which are necessary to implement the state fiscal plan for the 2026-2027 state fiscal year
What it does: Enacts into law major components of legislation which are necessary to implement the state fiscal plan for the 2026-2027 state fiscal year; sets forth a child and dependent care credit for taxable years beginning on o…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 88–11, Republicans 3–41
May 27, 2026Official record ↗
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
Relates to requirements for the provision of medication for medical aid in dying
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 83–62 · Yes 83–No 62 · Democrats 83–17, Republicans 0–45
Feb 4, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 83–53 · Yes 83–No 53 · Democrats 83–9, Republicans 0–44
Apr 28, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 83–61 · Yes 83–No 61 · Democrats 83–17, Republicans 0–44
Mar 31, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 90–47 · Yes 90–No 47 · Democrats 90–3, Republicans 0–44
Apr 28, 2026Official record ↗
Provides liability protections for health care providers who issue vaccines
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 90–47 · Yes 90–No 47 · Democrats 90–3, Republicans 0–44
Apr 28, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 91–50 · Yes 91–No 50 · Democrats 91–6, Republicans 0–44
Feb 11, 2026Official record ↗
Relates to procedures for protections of legally protected health activities
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 93–52 · Yes 93–No 52 · Democrats 93–7, Republicans 0–45
Mar 31, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed Assembly 89–50 · Yes 89–No 50 · Democrats 89–7, Republicans 0–43
May 5, 2026Official record ↗
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
Provides for a license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on certain premises at 22 N Main Street in the village of Florida, county of Orange.
Increases the occupancy tax in the county of St. Lawrence from three to five percent.
Provides for the use of restoration services when determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial.
Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the village of Croton-on-Hudson; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2031.
Relates to a license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on certain premises in the county of Greene.
Relates to labor peace agreements and the cannabis industry wage board.
Prohibits the use of restraints on and the use of force against incarcerated individuals during labor and incarcerated individuals who have experienced different pregnancy outcomes, absent extraordinary circumstances, and on pregnant and post-pregnancy persons during a custodial interrogation; provides for certain exceptions for restraints to be used and in such case limits the use to wrist restraints.
Makes conforming changes reflecting the previously authorized scope of practice of nurse practitioners; adds nurse practitioners as persons who can authorize or make certain determinations authorized to be made or determined by physicians.
Requires certain elections take place in even-numbered years for certain municipal and judicial officials except in the city of New York.
Permits the town of Monroe to impose a hotel and motel tax; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.
Showing 10 of 313 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.