Darializa Avila Chevalier won the New York 13th Congressional District Democratic primary on June 23, 2026, defeating five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in a major victory for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old community organizer and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, secured the nomination with 49.4% of the vote to Espaillat’s 45.9%, according to the Associated Press with more than 86% of votes counted, as reported by Spectrum News NY1.
The race centered on contrasting visions for the district, which comprises parts of Upper Manhattan including Harlem and Inwood, as well as neighborhoods in the Bronx including Kingsbridge Heights. Avila Chevalier cast Espaillat as out of step with working-class constituents and insufficiently progressive on issues like immigration enforcement and 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 a campaign video, according to NBC News.
Espaillat, 71, is the first Dominican American and first formerly undocumented immigrant elected to Congress, having held the seat since 2017. He chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and had support from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Gov. Kathy Hochul, and the state AFL-CIO, according to NBC News.
The turning point came when New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed Avila Chevalier last month, reversing an earlier private pledge to support Espaillat. Mamdani cast her candidacy as central to reshaping the Democratic Party’s direction. “She will be on the front lines of showing that Democrats have to be fighting for a vision that reckons with the fact that working people were not left behind just four years ago or 16 years ago,” Mamdani said on MSNBC, according to NBC News. “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.”
Avila Chevalier’s campaign faced intense scrutiny over past social media posts in which she used profanity toward Democratic leaders and made controversial statements about Israel, according to reporting from CNN and the New York Post cited by NBC News. She told NBC News this month that her understanding of how to approach political systems had evolved since those posts. “My values have always been my values,” she said. “But my understanding of how to approach the systems has grown.”
Espaillat conceded the race on election night. “Tonight wasn’t our night,” he told supporters, according to Spectrum News NY1. Avila Chevalier will advance to the general election in November, where she will be the Democratic nominee for the seat.
Sources
- NBC News — Avila Chevalier’s victory, her background, Espaillat’s record and support, Mamdani’s endorsement, campaign statements, and social media controversy
- Spectrum News NY1 — Primary results with vote totals, district composition, and Espaillat’s concession
- The Associated Press — Vote percentages and primary outcome confirmation
