Adriano Espaillat, the first Dominican American elected to Congress and current chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, lost his bid for a sixth term in the New York 13th District Democratic primary on June 23, 2026, falling to community organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old member of the Democratic Socialists of America backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Avila Chevalier, who works as a public defender, cast Espaillat as out of step with working-class constituents and disconnected from the district’s concerns on foreign policy. “Where is our congressman when ICE is kidnapping his constituents? Why should we let Adriano Espaillat vote to spend billions on bombs overseas when we’re struggling to afford rent and groceries right here in New York City?” she said in her campaign launch video, according to NBC News.
Espaillat, 71, leaned on his record of accomplishment in affordable housing and immigrant rights, having been the first formerly undocumented immigrant elected to the House. He had backing from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Governor Kathy Hochul, state Attorney General Letitia James, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the state AFL-CIO. Groups aligned with the Hispanic Caucus spent heavily to defend him, signaling the peril his campaign faced.
Mamdani’s endorsement proved decisive. The mayor initially promised privately to support Espaillat after he won the 2025 mayoral race, according to reporting by The New York Times and Politico confirmed by NBC News. Mamdani later reversed course, announcing his backing of Avila Chevalier last month and casting her as the future of the Democratic Party. “It will take a new generation of leadership to ensure that the heartbeat of this party is once again the struggles of the working class,” Mamdani said in his endorsement announcement.
The race turned sharply negative in its final days, with the candidates and their supporters sparring over Israel policy, campaign finance, and identity. Avila Chevalier, an Afro-Latina and Muslim, accused Espaillat’s backers of racist attacks and racial slurs at polling sites. Espaillat’s allies, meanwhile, circulated her past social media posts in which she profanely criticized Democratic leaders, called Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza a genocide, and expressed support for abolishing ICE and prisons. Avila Chevalier told NBC News this month that her views had evolved: “My values have always been my values. But my understanding of how to approach the systems has grown.”
The NY-13 race, which covers parts of Upper Manhattan including Harlem and Inwood as well as neighborhoods in the Bronx, reflected a broader battle within the Democratic Party over its direction. Avila Chevalier’s primary victory followed Mamdani-backed Brad Lander’s defeat of two-term incumbent Dan Goldman in the neighboring 10th District, marking a significant shift toward the progressive wing in New York’s congressional races.
Sources
- NBC News — Full reporting on Espaillat’s loss, Avila Chevalier’s victory, Mamdani’s endorsement reversal, and campaign dynamics including candidate statements and supporter backing.
- The New York Times — Reporting on Mamdani’s initial private promise to Espaillat and subsequent endorsement of Avila Chevalier.
- Politico — Confirmation of Mamdani’s private agreement with Espaillat before endorsing his challenger.
- House.gov (Rep. Adriano Espaillat) — Confirmation of Espaillat’s election as Congressional Hispanic Caucus chairman and status as first Dominican American in the House.
