DSA member Samantha Kattan hopes to succeed Claire Valdez in the Assembly

City & State New York•January 6, 2026•nation

Key Points:

Socialist tenant organizer Samantha Kattan has filed to run for New York Assembly District 37, aiming to succeed Assembly Member Claire Valdez, who plans to run for Congress.
Kattan, director of contracts at the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board and a Ridgewood resident for over five years, is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and has played a key role in DSA's electoral strategy.
Valdez’s expected run for Congress in the 7th Congressional District opens the Assembly seat, and DSA is seeking a strong left-leaning candidate to maintain representation in the district, which has a history of progressive support.
Kattan has launched a fundraising campaign and expressed readiness to fight