Mamdani-backed socialist with history of anti-American rhetoric wins vicious Dem primary race
Democrat Elections Mamdani-backed socialist with history of anti-American rhetoric wins vicious Dem primary race
Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat in a district all but guaranteed to elect her in November
By
Peter D'Abrosca Fox News
Published
June 23, 2026 10:40pm EDT close 
Video Socialist candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier says criminal illegal aliens shouldn't be deported
Kayleigh McEnany highlights socialist candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, dubbed "the next AOC," whose radical views include opposing the deportation of criminal illegal aliens and abolishing prisons. Chevalier previously called America a "disgrace" and "worse than Hamas" in now-deleted posts. Her campaign, backed by Mamdani, reflects extreme left-wing ideologies.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!A controversial socialist who once called the United States "a f-----g disgrace" and was backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, ousted a five-term Democratic incumbent in New York's 13th Congressional District.
Darializa Avila Chevalier, 32, is a community organizer who studied at Columbia University where she was known for leftist agitation and her membership in a group called Columbia University Apartheid Divest that would later post "Death to America" on its social media. She defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y. on Tuesday.
Avila Chevalier, who positioned herself further to the left than powerful progressives including former Vice President Kamala Harris, has faced scrutiny for her stance on private property, police, borders and calls to nationalize large swaths of the private sector in now-deleted posts from 2018 to 2022.
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)
In a 2021 repost, Avila Chevalier said that abolishing borders, prisons and police is "possible, necessary, and the only moral way forward," and later echoed posts that said "all deportation is wrong" and, "Yes, literally abolish the border," according to one report.
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"This country is a f-----g disgrace," she said in a post.
"I forgot to get napkins so I just wiped my hand on the American flag behind me," she reportedly said in yet another.
She reportedly called former President Joe Biden a "rapist" and "war criminal," chastised Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., for his "liberal Zionism," and said "F--k Kamala Harris."
Despite this, with Mamdani's backing and an increasingly left-leaning voter bloc in New York, Avila Chevalier secured the Democratic nomination.
Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., stands outside of Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey. 5/28/26. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)
In a recent debate with Espaillat, who came to the United States illegally before becoming a naturalized citizen and running for office, Avila Chevalier doubled down on her belief that no illegal aliens should be deported from the U.S., even if they have committed violent crimes and served prison or jail time.
She also once blasted Black and Arab men for "fetishizing ugly colonizer women," referring to white women.
Despite the controversy, Mamdani, who first endorsed Avila Chevalier in May, stuck by his endorsement and tested his socialist coattails.
"When it comes to Darializa's campaign, I had not seen those tweets and what I've heard from her and what I know a lot of others in the district that have heard from her is that her views have evolved and that the campaign she is running on is reflective of what she's going to be fighting for," Mamdani said when confronted by the candidate's controversial comments.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference at the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council building in New York City on July 2, 2025. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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"And frankly, when I see a candidate who has a record like she does of freeing New Yorkers who are unjustly detained by ICE, of standing up for the working person who has often been left out of our politics, especially in a district that has so many of the same themes that we're speaking of today — a fear of displacement, a fear of being pushed out of a place you helped to build — I think that she would be an incredible champion for that district and for the city as a whole," he continued.
Under its geographic boundaries, NY-13 encompasses Upper Manhattan and part of the West Bronx.
The district has never been represented by a Republican, and Avila Chevalier is all but guaranteed to win November's general election now that she's clinched the Democratic nomination.
Peter D'Abrosca is a politics reporter at Fox News Digital.
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.'
