The New York State Legislature now boasts a bloc of eight democratic socialist members, representing the New York City and Mid-Hudson Valley chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Socialists are hoping to continue to grow their numbers in Albany in 2024, as New York City DSA looks set to run three challengers for the state assembly.

Claire Valdez has received the NYC-DSA endorsement for New York State Assembly District 37 in Queens, which includes the neighborhoods of Long Island City, Sunnyside, Maspeth, and Ridgewood. Valdez, who works as a program assistant in the visual arts department at Columbia University, is a longtime organizer in NYC-DSA as well as her union, United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2110. As a member of the reform caucus United All Workers for Democracy (UAWD), she helped elect Shawn Fain UAW international president earlier this year.

Valdez is challenging incumbent Democrat Juan Ardila, who has received calls to resign from Governor Kathy Hochul and other prominent Democrats after being accused of sexual assault. Valdez recently sat down with Jacobin contributor Peter Lucas to discuss how she became active in politics, what she’s learned as a union organizer, and how she understands the role of socialists in elected office.