Darializa Avila Chevalier gushes over NYC Mayor

Darializa Avila Chevalier gushes over NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani as rift grows over calls to fire Jessica Tisch New York Post Mamdani stands by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch amid demands for her removal CNN Is Mamdani’s base on the brink of revolting against him?

TeaWithNews Business 📅 October 16, 2026 ✍️ Editorial Team 3 min read

The relationship. Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed Darializa Avila Chevalier, a former Columbia encampment organizer, for Congress in New York's 13th District in late May 2026. He praised her work on immigrant protections and affordability and didn't mention Israel or foreign policy in his statement. Her campaign later ran a TV ad featuring him.

The result. On June 23, she upset five-term Rep. Adriano Espaillat, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus chair, in the Democratic primary. The count showed her ahead 49.4% to 46% with 87% of ballots in. The district is heavily Democratic, so she is widely expected to win in November. Mamdani had reportedly promised to back Espaillat after Espaillat endorsed him for mayor, so the endorsement surprised many people.

The controversy. Her campaign drew scrutiny over old posts from a deleted social media account. Mamdani said he hadn't seen them before endorsing her, but he kept backing her and said her views had evolved. Critics, including Fox News, characterized the posts as "anti-America." Fox also reported that she walked out of a radio interview when pressed about them. She says she wants to focus on district issues like abolishing ICE, housing and confronting corporate power. Her critics on Israel include AIPAC-backed Espaillat, whom she accused of being tied to the Israeli lobby. Espaillat accused her of benefiting from outside "dark money."

Context. The coverage splits along predictable lines. Supporters see a grassroots win for a progressive coalition. Opponents see a far-left candidate with a troubling record on social media. A line of praise for Mamdani is therefore likely to be read through that lens.

If you paste the full headline or a link, I can summarize that article and check it against this background. I can also search for her latest statements.

Sources:

[JTA: Mamdani endorses Darializa Avila Chevalier](https://www.jta.org/2026/05/29/ny/mamdani-endorses-former-columbia-encampment-organizer-darializa-avila-chevalier)
[Washington Examiner: Mamdani-backed socialist beats Espaillat](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/?p=4621941)
[amNY: Mamdani stands by Avila Chevalier](https://www.amny.com/politics/ny-13-mamdani-stands-by-avila-chevalier/)
[Fox News: Candidate faces backlash over posts](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mamdani-backed-socialist-candidate-storms-live-interview-confronted-old-social-media-posts)
[El Faro Latino: third TV ad featuring Mamdani](https://elfarolatino.com/en/darializa-avila-chevalier-lanza-su-tercera-campana-publicitaria-de-seis-cifras-presentando-a-su-mas-reciente-partidario-el-alcalde-zohran-mamdani/)