politics
Darializa Avila Chevalier defeats Rep. Adriano Espaillat in New York Democratic primary
A 32-year-old activist backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani defeated Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Adriano Espaillat in the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District on Tuesday night.
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With 87 percent of ballots counted, the Associated Press called the race for New York’s 13th Congressional District at 10:38 p.m. Tuesday. Darializa Avila Chevalier received 49.4 percent of the vote to Adriano Espaillat’s 46 percent.
The district’s strong Democratic lean makes the primary outcome the decisive contest for the seat. Espaillat, 71, has represented the Harlem-area district since 2017.
Avila Chevalier, 32, received an endorsement from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The mayor had previously indicated he would support Espaillat.
Avila Chevalier highlighted her participation in Columbia University’s pro-Palestinian encampment during the campaign and criticized the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s support for Espaillat. In the campaign’s final days, she posted a video on Instagram alleging coordinated attacks.
“In the final days of this campaign, I have been hit with attacks that use Haitian as a slur, a coordinated wave of Islamophobia, lies about my identity, my faith, and my family,” Avila Chevalier said in the Monday video.
Espaillat told a local reporter on Tuesday that he condemned the rhetoric and asked supporters to “tone it down.”
Espaillat received endorsements from the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the Latino Victory Fund, and BOLD America.
