Chevalier Wins Primary With Mamdani Backing — She Hopes to Bring Islam to Congress, and That’s Not Even the Worst Part About Her (Video)
Darializa Avila Chevalier narrowly won the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th congressional district on Tuesday, defeating five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat. She had the backing of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America.
Chevalier has made it clear she wants her Muslim faith reflected in the halls of Congress. In one video she says she hopes to bring that influence into power.
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She has also expressed strong anti-American views. In another jaw-dropping statement, she comments dismissively on the American flag.
Her positions go far beyond standard progressive talking points. Chevalier has called for the abolition of police, prisons, and borders. She supports the seizure of private property and the nationalization of major industries. She is also a founder of CUAD, an organization whose stated goal includes the “eradication of Western civilization.”
Polling released before the primary showed Chevalier performed best among white voters in the district (35% to Espaillat’s 25%). Espaillat led among Black and Latino voters. The 13th district covers northern Manhattan and parts of the western Bronx.
Espaillat, who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and co-chairs the House Latino-Jewish Caucus, faced headwinds in a district where anti-Israel sentiment has grown stronger in recent years.
Mamdani’s influence is expanding. He also backed winning candidates in other New York primaries. Observers note that his brand of democratic socialism — with its emphasis on wealth redistribution, open borders rhetoric, and criticism of Israel — is gaining ground inside the Democratic Party in deep-blue areas.
Chevalier’s victory is another data point in that shift. Her combination of identity politics, religious framing, and explicit anti-Western positions represents a further move away from traditional liberal or even moderate Democratic views.
New York’s heavily Democratic districts often produce the eventual winners in November. If Chevalier advances, voters will have a clear choice between her platform and whatever Republican emerges in the general election.
The race highlights how far some corners of the Democratic coalition have moved on issues ranging from law enforcement and borders to national identity and foreign policy. Primary results like this one show the direction activist-driven factions want to take the party.
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