James Felton Keith
NY-13 Democratic nominee?
$718.2K
JUN 30, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleMechanical engineer
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
LocationNew York
BackgroundMechanical engineer
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Notable personal detailsJames Felton Keith is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in New York’s 13th Congressional District (2026 cycle). He has described his professional background as a mechanical engineer and labor economist, and as the founder of InclusionScore. He has also described himself as a human rights activist and organizer focused on equity and inclusion work.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
James Felton Keith supports a Universal Basic Income as a central economic policy and proposes creating an asset-holder stake for citizens in corporate productivity rather than relying solely on traditional taxpayer-funded transfers. His platform emphasizes redistributive mechanisms tied to corporate dividends from productivity and data, and includes broad progressive economic priorities such as housing guarantees and expanded social programs. Specific proposals describe funding UBI via corporate stakeholdership/dividends rather than explicit ordinary income tax increases.
Healthcare
The candidate supports expanded public healthcare access, including Medicaid coverage regardless of immigration status and broader healthcare equity measures such as free childcare and universal healthcare goals. Campaign materials direct constituents to New York’s public health insurance marketplace and list Medicaid-for-all style coverage options for low-income and undocumented residents.
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Immigration & Border
Supports protecting immigrants from ICE enforcement and providing community-based safety-net resources (healthcare access and referrals) for undocumented residents; organizes/endorses anti-ICE trainings and outreach to help neighbors avoid immigration enforcement. Positions focus on humanitarian support, regularizing access to services, and community defense rather than enforcement expansion.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports reproductive rights and pro-choice advocacy, framing reproductive policy in terms of procreative liberty and access to reproductive technologies. Endorses access to contraceptives and abortion services as part of broader reproductive-rights commitments and has participated in pro-choice events and marches.
Climate & Energy
Supports a Green New Deal–style approach and emphasizes environmental equity as part of a broader progressive platform, proposing a “Neon Green New Deal” among listed policy priorities. Uses sustainability language in linking climate/health policy and lists climate/environment as an issue of concern on campaign sites.
News
James Felton Keith is in the news because he is running in the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District against Rep. Adriano Espaillat. His campaign has also drawn election-law scrutiny over an early-voting giveaway that offered an ice cream token to people showing an early-voting sticker. More broadly, he is part of a set of New York Democratic primary candidates now being folded into the party’s push to unify ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Democratic socialist candidate's giveaway raises election law concerns
Hakeem Jeffries slammed for embracing Mamdani-backed candidates 'with open arms' after Dem primary sweep
What to Watch For in the NY Primary: Key Races and Why They Matter
Endorsements
Endorsers of James Felton Keith for NY-13 Democratic nominee?
The Krimson PAC
Political organization
The Krimson PAC endorsed James Felton Keith for U.S. Congress.
Councilwoman Kristin Richardson Jordan
Public figure
Kristin Richardson Jordan endorsed James Felton Keith.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Fundraising