Representative Yvette Clarke, Democratic from New York

Yvette Clarke

New York's 9th congressional district

NY-9 Midterms Intelligence

Yvette Clarke sits in one of the safest Democratic seats in the country: NY-09 is D+49, gave Democrats 74.3% of the vote, and left her uncontested in 2022. The district’s defining feature is its Black-majority coalition politics—41.3% Black, with sizable immigrant, Caribbean, Latino, and Asian communities layered into central Brooklyn’s dense renter landscape. After 19 years in office and a perch on Energy and Commerce, Clarke is less a persuasion target than a validator of progressive, urban priorities rooted in civil rights, affordability, and access.

For advocates, this is a cost-of-living and equity district first, with housing pressure the clearest organizing frame: homeownership is just 28.4% while median rent is $1,754. Economic stress is real despite middle-income optics, with 22.2% on SNAP and unemployment at 8.1%, so campaigns should tie health, climate, tech, or infrastructure asks to household stability, anti-displacement, and fair access. The strategic play is coalition activation, not partisan conversion: clergy, tenant groups, health systems, and local minority-serving institutions matter more than broad paid persuasion.

Representative Yvette Clarke represents New York's 9th congressional district, serving 737,304 constituents. The district has an estimated median household income of $75,855 and an unemployment rate of 8.1%.

Economic & Demographic Snapshot

737,304Population
↓ 24,189
$75,855Median Incomenat'l $37,585
↑ $5,511
8.1%Unemploymentnat'l 3.5%
↑ 0.9%
14.4%Poverty Ratenat'l 12.4%
↑ 0.9%
28.4%Homeownershipnat'l 65.5%
→ no change
$1,754Median Rentnat'l $1,163
↑ $97
48.6%Public Transitnat'l 5%
→ no change
42.7 minMean Commutenat'l 26.4 min
↓ 1.1 min

Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2017-2021 vs. 2019-2023). All figures are statistical estimates with 90% confidence level.

New York District 9 Demographics

Median Age 36.9 (vs 38.5) · Homeownership 28.4% (vs 65.5%) · Bachelor’s+ 39.0% (vs 33.7%) · Poverty 14.4% (vs 12.4%) · Income $75,855 (vs $37,585)

Key Issues for This District
Economic inequalityHousing affordabilityImmigration policyEducation accessWorkforce developmentRent burdenFood security

Age Distribution

Near the national median age (36.9 vs 38.5 nationally). 29% of residents are in the 20–39 working-age bracket — housing affordability, student debt, and workforce messaging indexes high.

Race & Ethnicity

A majority-minority district. Black residents are the largest group at 41.3%. Also significant: White (33.3%), Hispanic (11.2%).

* Hispanic includes respondents of any race. Racial categories include both Hispanic and non-Hispanic individuals.

Education

39.0% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, above the 33.7% national average. 14.2% of residents lack a high school diploma. 15.7% hold a post-graduate degree.

Income Distribution

Median household income is $75,855, well above the $37,585 national median.

Housing

A renter-majority district: only 28.4% own their home (vs 65.5% nationally). Median rent is $1,754. Median home value is $854,600.

How People Get to Work

A transit-heavy district: 48.6% use public transportation. Average commute is 42.7 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates
Data represents 5-year statistical estimates for increased reliability.
Note: New York congressional districts were significantly redrawn in 2022, affecting demographic comparisons between different survey periods.

New York District 9 FAQ

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