NEW YORK CITY (VINnews)-In a significant victory for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s progressive allies, democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier has defeated five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District.02f071

Join our WhatsApp group

Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email

The upset in the heavily Democratic district covering parts of upper Manhattan and the Bronx marks another win for Mamdani’s efforts to reshape the party’s direction through endorsements of candidates aligned with his democratic socialist vision. Espaillat, the first Dominican American elected to Congress, had strong establishment support including from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Gov. Kathy Hochul.

https://vinnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/BreitbartNews_720p_20260623_223232.mp4

Avila Chevalier, 32, a community organizer, public defender investigator and Columbia University graduate with no prior elected office, positioned herself as an outsider fighting for working-class communities. She was endorsed by Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America.

Critics in the Jewish community have expressed deep concern over Avila Chevalier’s positions and associations. She has advocated for abolishing prisons — including for those convicted of murder — and has stated that all deportations are wrong. She previously joined pro-Hamas activist Mahmoud Khalil in the Columbia University encampment during the wave of anti-Israel protests.

Her past social media activity, much of which was deleted, included calls to abolish police, borders and prisons, as well as support for positions questioning Israel’s right to exist. She has pushed policies such as “Babies, Not Bombs,” opposing U.S. military aid to Israel.

Espaillat, 71, has represented the district since 2017 and built a reputation as a progressive on many domestic issues while maintaining support for Israel. His defeat highlights deepening divisions within the Democratic Party, particularly over Israel policy and the influence of the democratic socialist wing.

Mamdani, who has only endorsed congressional candidates opposing military aid to Israel in this cycle, hailed Avila Chevalier as a fighter for communities long overlooked. The primary results underscore the growing sway of Mamdani’s movement following his own rise to mayor.

With the general election in the solidly Democratic district all but assured for the winner, attention now turns to how Avila Chevalier’s agenda will play out in Congress amid ongoing national debates over crime, immigration, and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

VINnews will continue to monitor developments and their potential impact on the Jewish community.