Darrializa Avila Chevalier won the Democratic primary for a New York congressional seat on Tuesday, in a result that is being seen as a major boost for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city’s Democratic Socialists. She defeated veteran Congressman Adriano Espaillat, 71, while Claire Valdez also won her primary in a Brooklyn and Queens district. Because both districts heavily favor Democrats, the winners are widely expected to take the seats in November.
Chevalier’s victory is especially contentious because of her repeated anti-Israel statements and activism. She has spoken against Israel, opposed sending weapons to the country, and taken part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including the Columbia University tent protest. She also attended a “victory march” where speakers praised Hamas on October 8, 2023, one day after the October 7 massacre. The article says she has also supported dismantling Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, and said she does not believe in deporting immigrants.
During the campaign, Chevalier was forced to apologize for deleted posts that also attacked leading Democrats. One post reportedly said, “Israel does not exist,” while others called President Joe Biden a “rapist” and insulted Vice President Kamala Harris. Espaillat, who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, had been targeted by the progressive wing because of his ties to pro-Israel groups such as AIPAC.
Valdez won the 7th District in Brooklyn and Queens after the retirement of Nydia Velazquez. She has backing from Senator Bernie Sanders, comes from labor organizing at Columbia University and the United Auto Workers, and like Chevalier was supported by Mamdani and the New York chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. Mamdani appeared in campaign ads for both women and urged voters to “take a risk” on them, as he did in his own election last year.
