New York City – At the Dominican Heritage Reception held at Gracie Mansion, a crowd of Dominican Americans gathered for cheese empanadas and sancocho while Mayor Zohran Mamdani introduced the evening’s guests. The loudest applause went to Darializa Avila Chevalier, the 32‑year‑old democratic socialist who unseated Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the June Democratic primary for New York’s 13th congressional district.
From activist roots to a congressional bid
Avila Chevalier, a community organizer and doctoral student in sociology at the City University of New York, built her campaign on strong support for Palestinian rights and the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She has long been involved in immigrant‑rights work, volunteering with Families for Freedom and spending three years attending deportation hearings as part of her research.
Her background includes a summer internship teaching English to Palestinians in West Bank refugee camps, an experience she says solidified her commitment to human dignity and led her to convert to Islam. She later joined Students for Justice in Palestine and helped organize campus protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Controversy and national attention
During the final weeks of the primary, Avila Chevalier’s old tweets and her attendance at a rally supporting Gaza the day after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel drew criticism. The rally featured chants such as “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” prompting backlash from some media outlets and political figures. Despite the controversy, she has become a frequent guest on Fox News and a target of former President Donald Trump’s campaign rallies.
Progressive members of Congress, including Rep. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, warned that Republicans might try to portray her as a radical, urging fellow Democrats not to let the narrative divide the party.
Potential influence in a narrow House
With the 2026 midterms approaching, Democrats hope to regain control of the House. If House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries secures a single‑digit majority, the incoming cohort of democratic socialists, including Avila Chevalier, could wield significant influence over leadership decisions and policy priorities.
Avila Chevalier told CNN, “Our movement has worked too hard for me to allow myself to be distracted. We’re discussing how to come in strong on day one and build a model of co‑governance that gives power back to working people.” She added that she is willing to talk to anyone who wants to deliver results for working families.
Family, faith, and future plans
Born in Florida with time spent in New York and Venezuela, Avila Chevalier grew up hearing her family discuss everyday concerns such as gas prices and benefit cuts. A distant relative, Mariangelly Abreu, recalled that Avila encouraged buying from street vendors instead of supermarkets as a way to support local economies.
She plans to focus on immigration reform, the abolition of ICE, and policies that protect the dignity of all residents. Her academic work and organizing experience have positioned her as a vocal advocate for both immigrant families and Palestinian rights.
As she prepares for a potential congressional term, Avila Chevalier faces the challenge of reconciling her activist background with the expectations of the party establishment she has just upset.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
