Full Breakdown
Darializa Avila Chevalier's Congressional Bid in New York's 13th District: Polls, Endorsements, and Controversy
6/16/2026, 11:05:39 PM
Background & Context
The 13th congressional district—covering northern Manhattan neighborhoods (Morningside Heights, Harlem, East Harlem, Washington Heights/Inwood) and the western Bronx—has been represented by Rep. Adriano Espaillat since 2017. In the 2025 mayoral race, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani secured a surprise victory, positioning himself as a progressive champion. Leveraging that momentum, Mamdani endorsed Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old doctoral candidate and immigration activist, for the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary. Chevalier is also backed by the New York chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the Justice Democrats.
Key Figures & Groups
- Darializa Avila Chevalier – Congressional candidate, DSA member, self-described socialist, advocate for abolishing ICE and raising taxes on the wealthy.
- Zohran Mamdani – NYC mayor, primary endorser, former mayoral challenger who defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
- Adriano Espaillat – Incumbent Rep., chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, supported by the Congressional Black Caucus and House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
- National Black Empowerment Action Fund (NBEAF) – Super-PAC spending at least $750,000 on voter education for Espaillat.
- Hasan Piker – Twitch streamer and political commentator, publicly supporting Chevalier and fellow DSA candidate Claire Valdez.
- Darius Jones – Senior advisor to NBEAF, spokesperson for the fund’s messaging.
Polling Data & Race Breakdown
A Mercury Public Affairs poll commissioned by NBEAF surveyed 468 likely Democratic primary voters (June 9-11) with a ±4.5 percentage-point margin of error. Results show Chevalier trailing Espaillat by eight points (35 % vs 27 %). Among white voters, Chevalier leads 35 % to 25 %; among Black voters, Espaillat leads 36 % to 21 %; among Latino voters, Espaillat leads 42 % to 30 %. Undecided voters comprise 38 % of the sample. Early voting began the Saturday before the poll, and the primary is set for June 23, following nine days of early voting.
Official Statements & Responses
NBEAF senior advisor Darius Jones said the fund aims to highlight Espaillat’s record defending Black and Hispanic New Yorkers and to counter “outside forces” seeking to reshape the district. The Espaillat campaign released an attack ad asserting Chevalier’s positions on school choice, charter schools, and police funding are out of step with district voters. The DSA issued a formal endorsement of Chevalier, citing her platform to abolish ICE, increase taxes on the wealthy, and advance the Palestinian cause. Justice Democrats listed Chevalier among its slate of progressive challengers. Chevalier’s campaign declined to comment on recent media coverage.
Criticism & Opposition
Former Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described a Times Square rally attended by Chevalier as “appalling and horrifying,” condemning the event’s extremist tone. Darius Jones criticized DSA-aligned policies, labeling proposals to abolish the police and release all prisoners as “nuts” and warning that such measures would disproportionately harm people of color. Media outlets have highlighted Chevalier’s past social-media posts that call former President Joe Biden a “rapist,” use profanity toward Vice President Kamala Harris, and assert “Israel doesn’t exist,” prompting accusations of anti-American rhetoric.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Only one is a nuclear power that’s ever used that kind of force ?” — Darializa Avila Chevalier
- “Not to mention the countless other forms of colonial violence that it’s enacted but you know ?.” — Darializa Avila Chevalier
- “F–k Kamala Harris” — Darializa Avila Chevalier
- “Israel doesn’t exist,” — Darializa Avila Chevalier
- “For the longest time, I thought we were so far away from socialism, and we might still be far away from socialism, but we do have an opportunity right here, right now, more than ever before,” — Hasan Piker
What’s Next
The primary will close on June 23, with early voting continuing through the week. Bernie Sanders is scheduled to appear at a Brooklyn rally supporting Chevalier and Valdez, potentially boosting their visibility. Both campaigns will intensify outreach to undecided voters, while NBEAF plans additional digital ads targeting Black and Hispanic constituencies. The outcome will determine whether a DSA-aligned challenger can unseat a long-standing incumbent in a district that has historically favored moderate Democrats.
