The NY primary election was viewed as a test of the future of the Democratic Party
The first day in New York serves as a test for the Democratic Party as the Democratic Socialists, including Zohran Mamdani, are actively campaigning for the challenge. Candidates Claire Valdez, Darieliza Avila Chevalier, and Brad Lander stand for policies like Medicare for All and the abolition of ICE. This section also covers the controversy surrounding Congressman Dan Goldman, who was banned from a Brooklyn coffee shop because of his pro-Israel stance, leading to a human rights investigation.
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New York State Assemblywoman Claire Valdez, the Democratic nominee for New York’s 7th District, faced an online backlash Wednesday after a May podcast clip resurfaced following her primary victory in which the Democratic socialist called for an end to TSA PreCheck and nationalization of the airline industry.
“My takehot we need to end PreCheck. I have, like, millions of cows in the airline industry and the process of being able to fly. We need, like, to make the airline industry all over the country, but let’s start by ending PreCheck,” said Valdez, in an interview with podcaster Francesca Fiorentini.
Valdez made the comments during a May 1 appearance on “Candidate Corner,” part of “The Bitchuation Room” podcast. The clip went viral after he won Tuesday’s Democratic primary to defeat Rep. Nydia Velazquez, defeating Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and two other candidates.
Claire Valdez faced online criticism after a podcast clip resurfaced in which she called for an end to TSA PreCheck and nationalization of the airline industry. (Tim Evans/Reuters)
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Former Rep. Marc Molinaro, RN.Y., accused Valdez of proposing policies that would make air travel more difficult.
“We’ve gotten to the point where NY socialist Democrats think that making airport security worse and lines longer somehow makes America better,” Molinaro told X.
Tré Easton, a former staffer for Sen. John Fetterman, also mocked Valdez’s call to end the airport’s expedited screening program.
“You can take my previous TSA check from my cold, dead, loving theater hands,” Easton said.
Travelers use the TSA PreCheck line at the airport, an expedited screening program Valdez said should be eliminated.
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David J. Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, said Valdez’s proposal would put the industry under the administration’s control.
“If we nationalize industries, it means putting Donald Trump in charge of those industries. All the planes will be used for deportations, and they won’t fly to Democrat states,” Bier told X.
Commercial flights remain at the airport gates as Valdez argues that government control of the airline industry will face higher fares, additional fees and limited passenger protection. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
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Travel writer Gary Leff argued that PreCheck allows the Transportation Security Administration to focus limited screening resources on passengers who have not been prescreened.
“He doesn’t want to get rid of TSA, he just wants to get rid of PreCheck. But TSA PreCheck means using scarce resources to focus on real threats,” Leff said.
Valdez framed his proposals as a response to airline profits, passenger fees and what he described as weak consumer protections.
“The airline industry makes a lot of money and constantly undermines the rights of consumers, nickel-and-diming us in every aspect of flying somewhere,” Valdez said.
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The Queens congresswoman also pointed out that the lack of a strong national rail network leaves travelers with few viable options for cross-country travel.
“And in a country where there are no solid national trains, it’s airplanes or nothing if we want to go from one side of the country to the other,” said Valdez. “And we are forced into these uncomfortable seats. We have very few rights.”
The TSA describes PreCheck as an expedited screening program that uses a risk assessment before passengers arrive at the airport. The US airline industry has operated under a largely deregulated framework since the Aviation Deregulation Act of 1978 removed federal controls over fares, routes and market access.
Fox News Digital reached out to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s office for comment, but he did not immediately respond.
The Queens congresswoman also pointed out that the lack of a strong national rail network leaves travelers with few viable options for cross-country travel. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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Valdez’s published campaign transportation platform calls for federal funding to be shifted from roads to public transit, walking and biking. Does not include PreCheck clearance or domestic flights.
Fox News Digital reached out to Assemblywoman Valdez for comment, but she did not immediately respond.
