Mamdani-backed socialist candidate storms out of live interview when confronted with old social media posts
Midterm Elections Mamdani-backed socialist candidate storms out of live interview when confronted with old social media posts
Radical Darializa Avila Chevalier beat incumbent Rep Adriano Espaillat in Tuesday's Dem primary for a key NY House seat
By
Amanda Macias Fox News
Published
June 24, 2026 6:00am EDT close 
Video New York Democratic congressional candidate faces backlash over ‘anti-America’ posts
Fox News national correspondent Bryan Llenas reports on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's endorsement of congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier amid scrutiny of her past social media posts on 'Fox Report.'
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!Newly minted socialist congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier abruptly walked out of a radio interview Tuesday after being pressed about controversial social media posts that, at times, overshadowed her campaign against New York Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat.
Just hours after dramatically ending the live interview with Spanish-language station La Mega, Avila Chevalier won her race to unseat Espaillat in New York's 13th Congressional District, a heavily blue-leaning seat covering parts of Manhattan and the Bronx. Her victory is a major upset that ousted a five-term incumbent and chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Avila Chevalier, backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), didn't want to face questioned on primary Election Day about her about past comments and now-deleted social media posts.
AOC COASTS TO PRIMARY WIN AS QUESTIONS SWIRL ABOUT POLITICAL FUTURE
Congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier speaks during a Get Out the Vote rally at King's Theater in New York City on June 18, 2026. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Mayor Zohran Mamdani campaigned alongside her and other candidates ahead of the Democratic primary and early voting. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The candidate, who now goes onto the general election in November where she will almost assuredly win a seat in Congress, has faced growing scrutiny in recent weeks over archived posts. She criticized Democratic leaders, called for abolishing police and prisons, opposed deportations and made inflammatory remarks about U.S. institutions and foreign policy.
She also helped lead protests against the Israel-Hamas war at Columbia University and was part of a campus group that later called for "Death to America."
Another source of backlash has been Avila Chevalier's past remarks about Dominican nationalism, including posts in which she said she did not display the Dominican flag on her social media profile because she viewed nationalism as "violent."
The remarks have drawn backlash in the heavily Dominican-American district she wants to represent and where some voters have questioned her views on Dominican identity and culture.
But when multiple radio hosts attempted to let her speak on the issue before polls closed in New York, the candidate shut down the conversation.
One host asked Avila Chevalier to take the opportunity on the show to "address the Dominican community that may feel bad for the things she has said in the past."
She responded by saying she felt bad about her past tweets in general but that it was time to unite and "fight for the things that are necessary for the community."
When another host asked her to specifically address the controversy over the Dominican flag, Avila Chevalier said she wanted to discuss the "issues that are impacting the residents of New York 13," adding that she was focused on fighting for the people who live in the district.
When a third host pressed her again, she interrupted and said, "I am not going to sit here and be yelled at by various people," adding that she had already addressed the issue.
"Have a beautiful day," she said before removing her headphones and abruptly leaving the radio studio.
The controversy surrounding her previous posts has emerged as one of the defining issues in the closely watched Democratic primary between Avila Chevalier and Espaillat, who has represented the district since 2017.
2026 MIDTERMS: PRIMARIES, KEY RACES AND ELECTION RESULTS
Avila Chevalier has argued that the focus on old posts distracts from current policy issues and has said she has evolved since many of the comments were written, framing the criticism as part of a broader effort to undermine her campaign.
Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., speaks at a rally with Senate cafeteria workers and UNITE HERE Local 23 and 25 union members on Capitol Hill after funding was appropriated to protect their jobs on April 6, 2022. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
During recent debates, Avila Chevalier has acknowledged and apologized for some of her past rhetoric, including comments directed at former Vice President Kamala Harris.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
However, she has continued to defend some of her previous positions, including her opposition to deportations. In a recent interview, Avila Chevalier said she still believes "all deportations are wrong," a stance that has drawn criticism from opponents and become a recurring topic on the campaign trail as voters weigh competing visions for immigration policy.
The controversy over Avila Chevalier's past social media activity has become a recurring flashpoint in the race, testing whether voters in the heavily Democratic district are willing to look past her past rhetoric as she seeks to build support among a diverse electorate.
Amanda Macias covers the intersection of business, economics and politics, with a focus on how policy decisions shape markets, businesses and American workers.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
