Activist Ávila Chevalier defeats incumbent Espaillat in New York primary

Darializa Ávila Chevalier, an activist supported by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has unexpectedly won the Democratic primary in New York's 13th Congressional District, unseating five-term incumbent Adriano Espaillat. NBC News projected the win, which Espaillat has since acknowledged.

Ávila Chevalier will now be the Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives in the November 3 election, facing Republican Jomo Williams. The district, which includes Upper Manhattan and the western Bronx, has a Hispanic majority population. This primary had garnered significant attention, not only for its contentious campaign but also as a proxy battle between Mayor Mamdani and the Democratic Party establishment.

Espaillat, 71, made history as the first Dominican immigrant and the first undocumented immigrant to serve in the U.S. Congress, holding his seat since 2017. He is also slated to lead the Congressional Hispanic Caucus starting in 2025. Ávila Chevalier, whose parents are Dominican immigrants, gained prominence as an organizer of student protests at Columbia University against the war in Gaza. Her campaign received endorsements from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Justice Democrats, and the United Auto Workers (UAW) union.

The race also highlighted political dynamics within the city. Espaillat had previously supported Mamdani's mayoral bid, but according to The New York Times, Espaillat felt betrayed when Mamdani backed Ávila Chevalier, calling it a "betrayal" in a recent radio interview. The outcome in this historically Democratic district carries national implications, reinforcing the state's role as a Democratic stronghold.