Queens Congressional Candidate Claire Valdez Faces Criticism Over Donations and Allegations of Hypocrisy
A candidate for Congress in Queens, Claire Valdez, has received donations from billionaires and employees of AI companies, despite publicly criticizing the billionaire class and the AI industry. Valdez's campaign has also been supported by political action committees funded by billionaires and AI investors. She has emphasized her commitment to addressing economic and environmental issues linked to AI and tech billionaires.
Critics have accused Valdez of hypocrisy for accepting donations from sources she has criticized, including employees of ICE vendors, despite her calls to abolish ICE and end for-profit detention and deportation. Valdez's father works for an engineering firm involved in Border Patrol projects, contradicting her previous claims of no involvement. Her campaign spokesperson emphasized the grassroots support she has received from small-dollar donors.
Valdez is running in a competitive Democratic primary to replace Rep. Nydia Velázquez in New York's 7th Congressional District, known as the "Commie Corridor" for its left-leaning voters. While Valdez has the support of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and the Democratic Socialists of America, Velázquez and the Working Families Party are backing Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.