Incoming ‘Squad’ Member Vows To Fight For Foreign Country In Congress

Claire Valdez, one of a handful of self-styled socialist candidates who will be joining the next U.S. Congress, referred to Mexican nationals as her “comrades” and vowed to advocate for them in a social media post celebrating Mexican Independence Day.

Valdez, a first-term New York State Assembly member and Democratic Socialists of America member, is the Democratic nominee for New York’s 7th Congressional District after winning the June 23 primary with 56.2 percent of the vote. Valdez was one of three Mamdani-backed DSA candidates to oust Democratic Party incumbents in the primary.

The district covers parts of northern Brooklyn and western Queens. Due to the district’s deep blue partisan lean, Valdez is near certain to be elected in November.

Valdez, who holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Mexico, vowed to advocate for her “comrades” across the border in a post celebrating Mexican Independence Day.

“215 years ago, Mexicans fought an empire that demanded our land and our labor. And we won. I’ll carry that fight with me to Congress as New York’s first Mexican American representative. And I’m strengthened not just by Mexico’s history but its present,” she wrote. “Last month I met comrades in Morena who are standing up to the empires and corporations that have always taken from us – and building a government for the working class. ¡Viva la Independencia, Viva México!”

215 years ago, Mexicans fought an empire that demanded our land and our labor. And we won.

I'll carry that fight with me to Congress as New York's first Mexican American representative.

And I'm strengthened not just by Mexico's history but its present. Last month I met… pic.twitter.com/bltYEhXMhN

— Claire Valdez (@claireforny) September 16, 2026

Valdez’s platform includes sponsoring Medicare for All “on Day One” that she claims will be funded by taxing billionaires and corporations. On immigration she has stated she will “work to abolish ICE,” establish pathways to citizenship for all illegal aliens, abolish cooperation between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement, and drastically reduce border security.

She is one of several incoming self-described socialist candidates, including fellow Mamdani-backed Democratic Socialists of America member Darializa Avila Chevalier, who won the primary in New York’s 13th District.

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