New York 7th District
Nydia Velázquez (D) is not running again. 3 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.DiscussMelvin Rivera
Republican · tenant organizer and community activist from Bushwick
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Rivera, and what Rivera has said and done settles only 2 of my principles. I went through it on November 1. A grade needs 4.
Claire Valdez
Democrat · state assembly member, union organizer, democratic socialist
FLiberty Score F0 out of 100 across 5 principles. Graded on what Valdez has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Valdez.
Raised $1,915,867 since January 2025: 89% from people, 6% from PACs and other committees, 5% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Voting in New York: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Melvin Rivera, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Rivera, so the grade above comes from this list: what Rivera has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
His issues page says he will cut small business regulations.
“Cut unnecessary small business regulations”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Less regulation is on the with side.
-
His issues page says he will pass an anti-flip tax on real estate.
“Pass an Anti-Flip Tax to stop predatory speculation”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A new tax is on the against side.
-
His issues page says he will reinstate the 1905 stock transfer tax.
“Reinstate the Stock Transfer Tax (1905)”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Raising a tax is on the against side.
-
His issues page proposes expedited Green Card pathways for long-term residents who are law-abiding, and says this is not amnesty.
“Create expedited Green Card pathways for individuals who:”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A legal-status pathway for people already in the country is on the against side.
Claire Valdez, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Valdez, so the grade above comes from this list: what Valdez has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
Her campaign site says she will push a War Powers Resolution to end the war with the Islamic Republic and vote against any funding for it.
“Claire will fight to pass a bipartisan War Powers Resolution to force the end of hostilities and will oppose any funding for the war.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A war powers resolution aimed at stopping action against Iran is on the against side.
-
Her campaign site says she will push to suspend U.S. military funding and arms transfers to Israel until it meets conditions.
“Claire will push for a full suspension of U.S. military funding and arms transfers to Israel until it complies with international law and ends its campaign of violence against Palestinians.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Conditioning or cutting off weapons to Israel is on the against side.
-
Her campaign site calls the U.S. stance toward China a cold war posture and asks for climate cooperation, without naming Taiwan or Ukraine.
“The cold war posture the U.S. has adopted toward China is incompatible with the level of cooperation the climate crisis demands.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
It names China but not Taiwan, NATO or Ukraine, so it does not settle the measure.
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In an interview she said most New Yorkers want higher taxes on the wealthiest people and most profitable corporations, and she backs that push.
“I think most New Yorkers want to see taxes raised on the very wealthiest New Yorkers and most profitable corporations.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Higher taxes on named groups is on the against side.
-
Her campaign site lists universal rent control among what she will fight for in Congress.
“Universal rent control”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Rent control is against liberty by this test.
-
Her campaign site says she will sponsor Medicare for All on her first day in Congress.
“In Congress, Claire will sponsor Medicare for All on Day One”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Government-run health care for all is on the against side.
-
Her campaign site says she will redirect military funding to domestic programmes.
“Claire will fight to redirect military funding back home”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Shifting money out of the military budget is on the against side of cutting defence funding.
-
Her campaign site says she will abolish and dismantle ICE.
“Claire knows we cannot reform a fundamentally broken system; we must abolish and dismantle ICE.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Abolishing ICE is on the against side.
Also on the ballot
Priscilla Ghaznavi (Independent).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
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Discussion
New York 7th District
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