WASHINGTON — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro tore into New York socialist congressional nominee Darializa Avila Chevalier and warned that a battle is brewing for the soul of the Democratic Party.
“Her district voted for her, but I have profound differences from that particular candidate,” Shapiro (D) bluntly told CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday.
“And she’s not someone who seemingly I would agree with on many things or that we share similar values,” he went on. “She ran on the Democratic ticket; I guess [she] is a socialist. Her voters in that district determined that she was the one they wanted representing her.”
Chevalier defeated Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) last month in the Empire State’s deep blue 13th Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Upper Manhattan and the West Bronx.
The self-described democratic socialist previously espoused many far-left views such as abolishing prisons, eliminating Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling former President Joe Biden a rapist, and bragging about wiping her dirty hands on the American flag.
“I think what our party has to go through that will be very healthy, and something we’ve not really done since the 1992 election cycle, is to have a battle over what we believe in,” Shapiro contended.
Shapiro is widely seen as a comparatively moderate figure within the Democratic Party, though unlike Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), the Pennsylvania governor is careful about picking fights with the far left.
Chevalier campaigned heavily against Israel, an issue that will likely become a problem for Shapiro if he runs for the Democratic presidential nod in 2028.
Shapiro sidestepped a question about how his Jewish identity would impact his prospects of becoming the Democrats’ presidential standard-bearer in two years, given where the party is on Israel.
“I think Pennsylvania is the ultimate swing state,” Shapiro replied when asked. “What I have found in my years of service in government is that the public wants you to be who you are. Be authentic.
“My faith teaches me that no one’s required to complete the task, but neither are we free to refrain from it,” he added. “That’s what my faith teaches me. That’s how my family raised me. That is who I am, and I’m not going to apologize for it.”
