Full Breakdown
Progressive Challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier Upsets Incumbent Adriano Espaillat in New York’s 13th Congressional Primary
6/25/2026, 5:28:24 AM
Upset in New York’s 13th District Primary
On June 23, 2026, Democratic challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District. Reported tallies give Avila Chevalier roughly 49 % of the vote to Espaillat’s 46 %, a margin of about 3,000 votes.
District Profile and Candidate Overview
The district spans Upper Manhattan neighborhoods—Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood—and Bronx sections such as Kingsbridge Heights. Over 50 % of residents identify as Latino (Data USA, 2024). Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old sociology Ph.D. candidate and DSA member, faced Espaillat, the first Dominican-American congressman and chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Campaign Dynamics and Results
Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed Avila Chevalier in late May, reversing an earlier pledge. A June 16 debate highlighted Espaillat’s $670,000 AIPAC contributions. Precinct reporting reached 86-90 % with vote shares reported as either 49.4 %/45.9 % or 49 %/46 %. Avila Chevalier stressed housing affordability and ICE abolition; Espaillat counted endorsements from Hakeem Jeffries and Kathy Hochul.
Policy Positions and Controversies
Avila Chevalier called for abolishing ICE, declaring housing a human right, and ending U.S. aid to Israel, accusing Espaillat of supporting a “genocide” via AIPAC-funded votes. Her 2020-2022 posts also advocated police abolition and used profanity toward President Biden, prompting apologies.
Official Statements & Responses
Rep. Pete Aguilar stressed the party’s goal of winning 218 House seats, downplaying the primary’s impact. Rep. Suzan DelBene echoed the focus. Mayor Mamdani praised Avila Chevalier as a clear-conscience candidate. Espaillat thanked supporters and called his service “the privilege of my life.”
Criticism & Opposition
Republican analysts warned Avila Chevalier’s radical rhetoric could be weaponized in swing districts. Bernie Sanders withheld endorsement, and Third Way co-founder Matt Bennett said the upset could portray the party as extreme.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Vote-share figures vary between 49.4 %/45.9 % and 49 %/46 %, and the final certified results have not yet been released. Precinct-level turnout data and demographic breakdowns remain unavailable, limiting analysis of the factors behind the upset.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our focus, our agenda is 218, and nothing that the mayor did helps or hurts us getting to that number,” — Rep. Pete Aguilar, Democratic Caucus chair
- “I know that each of us are seeing what I'm seeing right now: a new dawn for this district,” — Darializa Avila Chevalier, victory speech
- “When I came to this nation as a young immigrant boy, I never could have imagined that I would be a member of Congress. That is the privilege of my life.” — Rep. Adriano Espaillat, concession speech
- “And I said then that I can think of no better person than the daughter of a single mother case worker who has fought for working people her entire life, who has stood up for New Yorkers unjustly detained by ICE, who has called for a foreign policy of investing in babies and not bonds," Mamdani said.” — Zohran Mamdani, Mayor
Outlook for the General Election
Avila Chevalier will be the Democratic nominee in November. The campaign anticipates Republican attacks on her past statements while Democrats assess the implications of a leftward shift in a reliably Democratic district. Espaillat’s defeat also triggers a leadership vacancy in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
