Mamdani Endorses Espaillat's Primary Challenger Avila Chevalier
The endorsement adds momentum to a primary already drawing $1.35 million in outside spending for Espaillat’s re-election effort.
- On Thursday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed Darializa Avila Chevalier for Congress, a democratic socialist challenging five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the 13th Congressional District covering Upper Manhattan and the Bronx.
- Mamdani's support highlights a strategy to reshape the city's congressional delegation by backing anti-establishment candidates, with Avila Chevalier emphasizing affordability and immigrant protections over Espaillat's establishment alignment.
- Political analyst Eli Valentin described the race as a "50/50" contest, while the Latino Victory Fund announced last week it intends to spend $750,000 mostly on TV ads to boost Espaillat's re-election.
- Espaillat touted endorsements from prominent Democrats including Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, while critics condemned Mamdani for reneging on a previous commitment to support the incumbent.
- This race is one of three high-profile primaries where Mamdani has intervened, also backing Assemblymember Claire Valdez against Rep. Nydia Velázquez and City Comptroller Brad Lander against Rep. Dan Goldman.
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Who else might Mamdani endorse?
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani shook up the political scene Thursday night when he endorsed Darializa Avila Chevalier, the little-known challenger to Rep. Adriano Espaillat who’s backed by Justice Democrats and the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, the mayor’s political home. And there are more big endorsements coming, ahead of the June 23 Democratic primary. The mayor had previously endorsed DSA-backed Assembly …
Mamdani endorses former Columbia encampment organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier
The challenger for Adriano Espaillat's seat in Congress joins Brad Lander and Claire Valdez on the mayor's list of endorsees.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is backing democratic socialist challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier over U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the June Democratic primary —
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