Progressive challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier defeats Rep. Adriano Espaillat in New York Democratic primary

Jun 24, 2026

Progressive challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier pulled off a stunning upset on June 23, 2026, defeating five-term incumbent Representative Adriano Espaillat in New York's 13th Congressional District Democratic primary. Backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America, the 32-year-old activist won 49% of the vote. The race was marked by intense clashes over Israel policy and late-stage racist attacks targeting Avila Chevalier's identity, cementing Mamdani's role as a progressive kingmaker.

Avila Chevalier primary victory

▪Darializa Avila Chevalier won the Democratic primary with 49% of the vote, while Representative Adriano Espaillat conceded the race after 10:30 p.m. EDT.
▪Progressive challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated incumbent Representative Adriano Espaillat in the Democratic primary for New York's 13th Congressional District on June 23, 2026.
▪If Darializa Avila Chevalier wins the general election in November 2026, she will become the first Dominican woman elected to Congress.

DSA electoral success

▪Nine out of ten Democratic Socialists of America candidates won their primary elections on June 23, 2026.
▪All three congressional candidates endorsed by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani won their Democratic primary elections on June 23, 2026.
▪Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, defeated incumbent Representative Dan Goldman in the District 10 Democratic primary.

Mayoral endorsement strategy

▪New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed Darializa Avila Chevalier in May 2026, reneging on a prior private promise to support Representative Adriano Espaillat.
▪Representative Adriano Espaillat endorsed former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the previous year's mayoral primary before backing Zohran Mamdani once Mamdani won the nomination.

Racist campaign attacks

▪A former senior aide to Representative Adriano Espaillat accused Darializa Avila Chevalier of wanting to make Washington Heights a bastion of the Haitian, Muslim community.
▪Darializa Avila Chevalier accused Representative Adriano Espaillat and his supporters of slinging racial slurs and falsely claiming she is Haitian to stoke division.

Palestine advocacy controversies

▪Darializa Avila Chevalier faced criticism for participating in an October 8, 2023, pro-Palestinian protest in Times Square and pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.
▪Darializa Avila Chevalier criticized Representative Adriano Espaillat for failing to support Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, who was detained by ICE for three months.

Progressive policy platform

▪Darializa Avila Chevalier voiced support for the "Block the Bombs" bill to block certain arms sales to Israel, making "babies, not bombs" her signature campaign pledge.
▪Darializa Avila Chevalier campaigned on a platform that includes universal healthcare, national tenant protections, abolishing ICE, and banning big PACs from elections.