Primary Election
Open seat in NY-07 draws four progressive primary challengers
The 2026 Democratic primary for New York's 7th congressional district is an open-seat race featuring four candidates: Vichal Kumar, Antonio Reynoso, Claire Valdez, and Julie Won. Claire Valdez leads in fundraising with over $1.3 million raised, followed by Antonio Reynoso and Julie Won, while Vichal Kumar trails significantly. The candidates share progressive stances on many issues but diverge on foreign policy and other topics, making the contest competitive.
Member of the New York State Assembly, 37th District (2025–present)
Healthcare — Valdez supports Medicare for All, pledging to sponsor it on Day One. She argues that health insurance corporations profit while people are uninsured or underinsured, and that healthcare is a human right.
Zohran Mamdani +7
Brooklyn Borough President (current)
Immigration — Antonio Reynoso ended NYPD coordination with ICE on Rikers Island and helped immigrants access work permits and legal support. He supports abolishing ICE and using all available tools to protect immigrant families.
Nydia Velázquez +7
Member of the New York City Council for District 26 (2022–present)
Empower Workers — Won supports expanding access to financial assistance for funeral expenses so that no family has to choose between mourning a loved one and financial ruin.
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) individuals and organizations
Public defender
Immigration — Vichal Kumar advocates for dismantling ICE, stopping the expansion of detention centers, and halting the deportation machine. He supports immigration policies that prioritize protecting families and communities, restoring due process, and creating permanent pathways for those seeking to fulfill their dreams in the U.S.
Indian American Impact +1
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Healthcare
Candidates Kumar, Reynoso, and Valdez all support Medicare for All, framing healthcare as a fundamental right and criticizing the current system for leaving people uninsured or underinsured.
Valdez supports Medicare for All, pledging to sponsor it on Day One. She argues that health insurance corporations profit while people are uninsured or underinsured, and that healthcare is a human right.
Campaign Issues PageHousing
Kumar aims to protect families from losing their homes; Reynoso advocates for repealing the Faircloth Amendment and investing in public housing; Valdez supports universal rent control and tenant power, noting that 77% of NY-7 residents are tenants.
Valdez advocates for universal rent control, public investment in housing supply, the right to a safe home, and tenant power with landlord accountability. She notes 77% of NY-7 residents are tenants and she would be a tenant member of Congress.
Campaign Issues PageImmigration
Kumar, Reynoso, and Valdez all support dismantling ICE and protecting immigrant families, with Reynoso highlighting his work ending NYPD coordination with ICE and Valdez also calling for demilitarizing the border and addressing root causes of migration.
Antonio Reynoso ended NYPD coordination with ICE on Rikers Island and helped immigrants access work permits and legal support. He supports abolishing ICE and using all available tools to protect immigrant families.
Reynoso for Congress Issues PageCycle-to-date · FEC — figures change as new reports are filed.
Researched & verified Jun 22, 2026. Compiled from verified public sources; claims that failed verification are excluded.