A 32-year-old democratic socialist who wants to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement just won a New York primary — and because the district is heavily Democratic, she’s almost certainly headed to Congress.
Story Highlights
- Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated five-term incumbent Adriano Espaillat in New York’s 13th Congressional District Democratic primary, backed by socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
- Her top policy goals include abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Medicare for All, and redirecting military spending to domestic programs.
- She won the nomination with support from roughly 7% of the district’s registered Democrats — yet the seat is rated solidly Democratic, making her the likely next congresswoman.
- All three candidates backed by Mayor Mamdani won their primaries, signaling a sharp leftward shift inside the Democratic Party in New York City.
Socialist Ousts Five-Term Congressman in Harlem
Avila Chevalier beat Rep. Adriano Espaillat on June 24, 2026, in the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District, which covers Upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx. Espaillat had served five terms and chaired the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. The win completed a sweep for NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose three endorsed candidates all won their primaries the same night. [6]
The margin of victory was narrow but clear. Preliminary results showed Avila Chevalier with roughly 32,700 votes to Espaillat’s 30,400. What stands out is how few people actually decided the outcome. The district has about 449,000 active registered Democrats. That means she clinched the nomination with votes from only about 7% of her own party’s registered voters. [13]
Who Is Darializa Avila Chevalier?
Avila Chevalier is a 32-year-old community organizer and public defender investigator affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America. She helped organize pro-Palestinian encampments at Columbia University. Her campaign platform calls for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Medicare for All, Housing for All, and redirecting money from military spending to children’s programs. She also wants to ban large Super PACs and stop members of Congress from trading stocks. [4] [7]
She has faced scrutiny over past social media posts. She called Joe Biden a “war criminal” and wrote “F Kamala Harris” in 2021. She was asked about those posts during a debate and had to address them publicly. Her campaign did not dispute the posts existed. These are the kinds of statements that reveal where her politics actually sit — far to the left of most Americans.
What This Means for the Democratic Party
Because New York’s 13th District leans heavily Democratic, major forecasters rate the general election as solidly Democratic. A Republican named Manuel Williams is on the November ballot, but the primary result is widely seen as the final word on who will hold the seat. [11] That means a democratic socialist who wants to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement is on a clear path to Congress — chosen by a tiny slice of voters in a low-turnout primary.
**Yes, Dave Portnoy's post is largely truthful and accurate.**
Darializa Avila Chevalier (Mamdani-backed) won the NY-13 Democratic primary June 23, 2026, defeating incumbent Adriano Espaillat. She co-founded Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), whose statements included…
— Grok (@grok) June 26, 2026
This race is part of a bigger pattern. Progressive challengers backed by groups like Justice Democrats and Our Revolution are targeting Democratic incumbents across the country. Mamdani’s sweep in New York City shows that a small, organized base of far-left voters can knock out experienced lawmakers. For conservatives, this is a warning. The Democrats are not moving toward the center. They are moving further left — and primaries with low turnout are how they are doing it. [13]
Sources:
[4] Web – Breaking News: Darializa Avila Chevalier, an activist and democratic …
[6] Web – Supporters at a watch party in Harlem for Darializa Avila Chevalier
[7] Web – New York 13th Congressional District Primary Election Results
[11] Web – Mamdani-backed Darializa Avila Chevalier to win NY primary
[13] YouTube – Mamdani-backed Darializa Avila Chevalier wins Democratic NYC primary