Darializa Avila Chevalier, a political newcomer backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, wins the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th congressional district, ousting five-term U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat. Multiple outlets report that Chevalier defeats Espaillat in the primary covering parts of Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, with The Guardian citing more than 49% of the vote. The coverage describes Chevalier as a doctoral student and a “public defence investigator,” and notes her lack of prior elected office experience.
The Guardian also reports that her campaign faces extensive negative advertising and that opposition materials include allegations related to personal background. Separately, the Globe and Mail reports that Mamdani-aligned candidates also perform strongly in other New York City Democratic primaries, including Brad Lander defeating incumbent Dan Goldman, with Lander’s win occurring alongside Chevalier’s victory. Fox News frames the primary as a significant test for Mamdani’s political influence, while The Hill and other sources focus on the defeat of Espaillat and the broader impact of Mamdani-backed candidates across related races.
