Who's running in New York's 9th congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Yvette Clarke currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Immigration reform, including ending family separation and improving conditions in detention.
Health care as a right, with action against pharmaceutical companies and private insurers she says make care unaffordable.
Keeping Brooklyn affordable, particularly for low-income residents; she introduced the Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act in 2019.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 9th District since January 2007.
Former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Introduced the Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act in 2019.
Advanced from the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary.
Arguments in favor
She chairs the Congressional Black Caucus and has made voting rights the centre of her work: "Being an outspoken voice around voting rights; being an outspoken voice around diversity, equity, and inclusion... is something that I get a lot of joy in doing", including opposition to the SAVE America Act and to weakening the Voting Rights Act.
— Yvette Clarke, at her campaign launch, reported by the Amsterdam News
Her agenda is the district's cost problem plus the issues nobody else is legislating on — "the escalating costs of groceries, everyday provisions that people need to enjoy a quality of life", alongside immigration reform, affordable housing and regulation of artificial intelligence.
— Yvette Clarke, reported by the Amsterdam News
Arguments against
Her record on antisemitism is "abysmal": she met Louis Farrakhan behind closed doors, drawing condemnation from the Anti-Defamation League; voted against amendments on campus antisemitism and against a resolution calling "from the river to the sea" antisemitic; and was among only 45 Democrats to vote against a measure targeting Hamas's international support networks.
— Mike Goldfarb, her Democratic primary opponent, citing David Greenfield and the Jewish Press, reported by COLlive
She voted against defence funding for Israel at least five times between 2020 and 2022, and has "largely relegated Jewish issues to less than second-class status" in a district with a substantial Jewish population.
— The Jewish Press, quoted by Mike Goldfarb
What we couldn’t verify
Clarke did not respond to these criticisms in the reporting found, and her own account of the Farrakhan meeting and of those votes was not established from the sources found.
She won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary with 66.4% against three challengers.
No National Republican Congressional Committee page about her by name was found, and no criticism of her from her general election opponent.
Letting people keep as much of what they earn as possible; he argues individuals manage money better than government.
Opposing high property taxes and what he calls onerous regulation of property ownership.
Investment in American infrastructure — he names the Utica Avenue subway — rather than in war.
Free expression without interference from governments or technology companies.
Communities that are safe and where people are invested in their neighbourhoods, and what he describes as the nuclear family as a core part of American society.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Republican nominee for the 9th District; also carries the Conservative Party line.
Won the June 23, 2026 Republican primary.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Anabilah-Azumah by name could be found: not from Yvette Clarke or her campaign, not from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and not from Brooklyn news coverage, which covered the Democratic primary rather than the Republican side. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either, rather than showing his own campaign's case unanswered.
His positions, fundraising and any endorsements were not reported in material available.
This district is heavily Democratic and the general election has drawn very little coverage.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
New York held its primary on June 23, 2026. Democratic incumbent Yvette Clarke faces Republican Joel Anabilah-Azumah, who also carries the Conservative Party line, in this central Brooklyn district. New York allows fusion voting. The 2026 elections use the congressional map enacted on February 28, 2024. Roster from the New York qualifying lists as reported by Politics1 and Wikipedia. Neither candidate is listed with arguments for or against here: no published criticism of either candidate by name from someone opposing them could be found, and setting out a case against one and not the other would tilt the page.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A New York ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at New York State Board of Elections.