Democrats’ Newest Pick Is Their Most Radical Yet

Socialist candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier is likely to become Congress’ most radical member after she won the Democratic primary in New York’s 13th congressional district, which has not elected a Republican under its current redistricting lines.  

Chevalier has called to abolish police, disparaged the American flag, and refused to condemn Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack on Israel. She also does not support any form of deportation — including of illegal immigrants who are convicted of murder, rape, and battery.

“The reason I say that is because we have a criminal system. It is imperfect. But it exists,” she said. “We need to make sure it is one that isn’t also discriminatory on the basis of where people were born, right?” She went further to explain that deporting someone and having them serve time in jail is “double punishment.” 

I asked DSA congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier (NY-13) about several of her previously deleted tweets, including one that read that “all deportations are wrong.”

Here’s what she said: pic.twitter.com/T4hqi1F66J

— Astead (@AsteadWH) June 17, 2026

The topic came up as Chevalier was grilled about her controversial X posts. The 32-year-old Democratic nominee has also called for abolishing the police and seizing private property. During the primary debate against incumbent Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Chevalier said she believes the best way to curb crime is through alleviating poverty via social safety net funding, affordable housing, after-school programs and addressing the opioid crisis rather than “militarized police.” Chevalier unseated Espaillat on Tuesday.

She also criticized former Vice President Kamala Harris posting on X, “F*ck Kamala Harris.” For that she said, “I sincerely apologize. I would love to see a black woman president.” 

She told MS NOW’s Jen Psaki that the issue of affordability ultimately motivated her to run because she is “someone who has had to live with the question of whether I can afford to stay in the city I love.”

Chevalier has walked back another one of her posts that read, “I forgot to get napkins so I just wiped my hand on the American flag behind me.” However, in an interview on Tuesday, she abruptly left in the middle of questions into her past statements, saying she felt regret for some of her past posts, but added that it was time to “fight for the things that are necessary for the community.” 

Chevalier has spent the majority of her career in higher education. She served as an administrative assistant and research assistant at Columbia University. Before starting a seven-year PhD program at City University of New York, she served as a community organizer and activist. As an organizer, she questioned Israel’s legitimacy and helped orchestrate pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University after the October 7 Hamas attacks. 

In her first interview since her election, Chevalier proudly touted that she has been “organizing my entire adult life around immigration injustice, mass incarceration, and around Palestine.” 

Chevalier was elected alongside two other socialist candidates who were also backed by New York City democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

“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 when he endorsed Chevalier last month.