Darializa Avila Chevalier, the far-left congressional candidate backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani who is seeking to topple New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat in a hotly contested Democratic primary, repeatedly apologized for her nasty tweets that included cursing out Kamala Harris.
“I deeply regret my tweets,” Chevalier said during a fiery Tuesday night debate with Espaillat, a five-term incumbent representing northern Manhattan and parts of the Bronx.
“This is me taking accountability,” the democratic socialist firebrand declared during the debate hosted by NY1.
Chevalier, 32, was forced to address an old X post in which he said, “F—k Kamala Harris [former Vice President and 2026 White House candidate].”
The 13th Congressional District that Chevalier is vying to represent includes neighborhoods such as Morningside Heights, Harlem, Washington Heights and portions of the Bronx with significant black, Latino and liberal voters who supported Democrat Harris’ bid for the White House .
“I sincerely apologize. I would love to see a Black woman president,” Chevalier said.
Espaillat, 71, came out swinging.
He brought up that Chevalier attended a notorious Oct. 8, 2023 rally in Times Square — the day after Hamas attacked Israel and killed 1,400 people, where many celebrated the slaughter.
“She went to celebrate the deaths of innocent people,” Espaillat said.
He also said he believes in the existence of Israel as a Jewish state, and that Chevalier does not.
Chevalier countered that her attendance was not to celebrate the deaths of Israelis but to support the Palestinian cause. She said Israel engages in “apartheid” in the West Bank and Gaza.
“I would never celebrate the death of any human being,” she said.
But Espaillat was also forced to play defense, particularly regarding his record supporting Israel, as sentiment among many Democrats has turned against the Jewish state for its brutal response during the retaliatory war in Gaza.
The incumbent has received $140,000 from pro-Israel forces such as members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, noted Courtney Gross, one of NY1’s questioners along with Errol Louis.
The congressman said contributions don’t impact his vote and sought to turn the tables, saying Chevalier benefits from Super PAC funding from wealthy outsiders.
Immigration was a hot topic in a district with a huge immigrant and migrant populations, including those who came here illegally.
Both are of Dominican heritage and support protecting undocumented immigrants, with one distinction.
Chevalier said she opposed deporting any undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes — even violent crimes such as rape and murder. She said convicts should not be punished again after serving their sentence for being “born elsewhere.”
But Espaillat, a native of the Dominican Republic who said he was at one point an undocumented immigrant, supported deporting illegal residents convicted of the most heinous crimes.
Chevalier accused Espaillat of not helping anti-Israel protester and Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, a US permanent resident, when the Trump administration detained him. The congressman said his office met with Khalil, who resides in the district.
Meanwhile, Espaillat brought up Chevalier’s tweets bashing the police when the candidates were asked about their position on public safety.
“I work well with the police commissioner. She has stated she wants to eliminate the police,” Espaillat said.
Chevalier said the best way to curb crime is through preventive measures: alleviating poverty via social safety net funding, affordable housing, after-school programs and addressing the opioid crisis and not an increasingly “militarized police.”
Espaillat said he’s been in the trenches fighting crack dealing in Washington Heights but also complained about “redlining” Harlem with too many methadone clinics.
Both said they supported Mayor Mamdani’s plan to have one city-run grocery store in each borough, while remaining mindful not to harm local bodegas. Their is one planned in East Harlem, which is part of the 13th District.
A recent poll by a pro-Espaillat group showed the incumbent ahead of Chevalier by a less than comfortable 8-point margin — 35% to 27% with nearly 4 in 10 voters undecided. Election Day is next Tuesday, June 23, following the nine days of early voting.
