This Rising Socialist Candidate Just Called Puerto Rico a ‘Colony’ — and Her Debt Plan Is Drawing Fire

New York Democratic socialist Claire Valdez, the party’s nominee in the 7th Congressional District, told an interviewer that Puerto Rico deserves congressional representation “until it is no longer a colony” and that its debt should be canceled.

Valdez, a Queens assemblywoman endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, framed her approach through a “decolonial” lens. “I come to this with a decolonial organizing history and lens,” she said. “And so making sure that Puerto Rico has real representation in Congress … until it is no longer a colony is really, really important.”

She placed the island’s finances near the top of her priorities. “I think we have to cancel that debt,” Valdez stated, arguing that an elected board making decisions about the island’s future “is not in my opinion a path towards true democracy.”

The Financial Oversight and Management Board created under the 2016 PROMESA law has restructured about 80 percent of Puerto Rico’s debt, reducing liabilities from more than $70 billion to roughly $37 billion and projecting more than $50 billion in savings.

Valdez also backs abolishing ICE, which she has called “fascist,” supports Medicare for All, and opposes what she terms “forever wars.” On Israel she said she strongly opposes “the genocide in Gaza” and wants the United States to withhold funding.

She further argued Puerto Rico’s land should not serve as a military base “for forever war and incursions to … Cuba and Venezuela.”

Valdez won her primary with 55.9 percent of the vote, ending her victory party with the message: “Solidarity forever, abolish ICE, free Palestine, organize your union, and join DSA.”