Darializa Avila Chevalier secured nearly 88% of the vote in New York’s 13th Congressional District despite scrutiny over previous statements supporting the elimination of law enforcement, deportations and private property ownership.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
NEW YORK — Democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier won a decisive victory in New York’s 13th Congressional District on Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating Republican Jomo Williams after a campaign marked by controversy over her previous calls to abolish police, prisons, national borders and immigration deportations.
Avila Chevalier, 32, received approximately 87.5% of the vote, compared with 11.4% for Williams, according to election results reported by the Columbia Daily Spectator. Her victory will send another member of the Democratic Socialists of America to Congress, representing a heavily Democratic district encompassing Harlem, Washington Heights and portions of the Bronx.
The incoming congresswoman, who received endorsements from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), previously attracted national attention after investigators uncovered years of deleted social media statements advocating sweeping changes to American policing, immigration enforcement, economic policy and foreign relations.
A June 1 investigation by CNN examined hundreds of posts and reposts from Avila Chevalier’s former Twitter account, finding repeated endorsements of eliminating law enforcement institutions and national borders.
Among the statements were calls for “ending policing full stop” and establishing a society with “no more police at all, ever.”
In a 2021 social media post, Avila Chevalier endorsed the view that “a world without borders, just like a world without prisons or police, is possible, necessary, and the only moral way forward.”
She also supported eliminating immigration deportations, writing, “Yes literally abolish the border, all deportation is wrong.”
Those positions drew criticism during the Democratic primary, particularly over whether law enforcement and incarceration should remain available to address violent criminal offenses.
Avila Chevalier’s previous statements extended to economic policies involving government control of private industries and property. According to the CNN investigation, she supported seizing rental properties from landlords, nationalizing major industries and eliminating private ownership in certain sectors.
Other posts advocated transferring hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and utilities into public ownership, suspending rent and mortgage payments, and dismantling private insurance companies.
Her statements about race and interracial relationships also drew scrutiny. In one deleted post, Avila Chevalier criticized Black and Arab men involved with white women, describing them as men who “fetishize ugly colonizer women,” according to reporting by the New York Post.
Additional comments included criticism of the American flag and attacks on Democratic political figures. She previously described the United States as a “f—–g disgrace” and accused former President Joe Biden of being a “rapist” and “war criminal.”
Avila Chevalier also criticized the United States’ relationship with Israel. In an August 2020 post, she declared, “Israel doesn’t exist,” while other statements opposed American military assistance to the country and questioned Israel’s legitimacy.
Following publication of the deleted posts, Avila Chevalier said the statements no longer represented her current views and accused her primary opponent, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), of attempting to distract voters from issues affecting the district.
Mamdani defended his endorsement despite the controversy, emphasizing her support for working-class New Yorkers and opposition to what he characterized as corporate influence and exploitative housing practices.
Avila Chevalier’s political rise accelerated during the June 23 Democratic primary, when she defeated Espaillat, a five-term incumbent and chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
According to certified primary results compiled by Ballotpedia, Avila Chevalier received 49.5% of the vote, compared with 45.7% for Espaillat. The primary victory effectively positioned her to capture the congressional seat in November because of the district’s substantial Democratic registration advantage.
Before entering politics, Avila Chevalier worked as an investigator for a New York City public defender’s office and pursued doctoral studies. She also participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University, including the 2024 Gaza solidarity encampment.
Her congressional campaign emphasized housing affordability, expanded public services, Medicare for All and opposition to federal immigration enforcement. She also advocated stronger protections for Palestinian civilians and restrictions on American military assistance to Israel.
The victory was part of a broader success for candidates associated with Mamdani and New York City’s democratic socialist movement.
According to CBS News election projections, fellow Democratic socialist Claire Valdez won the 7th Congressional District, representing portions of Brooklyn and Queens.
Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, another Mamdani-backed candidate, also won a congressional seat in the city’s 10th District, strengthening the mayor’s political influence beyond municipal government.
The Associated Press reported ahead of the election that several democratic socialist candidates were positioned to enter Congress after defeating established Democratic incumbents in primary elections. Their victories are expected to increase the influence of the party’s progressive wing on economic policy, immigration enforcement and American foreign relations.
Avila Chevalier will take office in January 2027 as Democrats assume control of the House following Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Her arrival in Congress will place a candidate associated with the movement to abolish policing and prisons in the federal legislature, although she has said her earlier social media statements do not fully reflect her current positions.
The election results demonstrated the strength of the Democratic socialist movement in heavily Democratic New York City districts, where candidates backed by Mamdani prevailed despite disputes over their political positions and previous public statements.
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