Darializa Avila Chevalier, a socialist congressional candidate endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, abruptly departed a live radio interview Tuesday after facing questions about controversial social media posts. The incident occurred on primary Election Day, just hours before Chevalier won her race against five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in New York's 13th Congressional District.
Chevalier, who secured the Democratic nomination in the heavily blue-leaning district covering parts of Manhattan and the Bronx, has faced increasing scrutiny over archived posts. These posts included criticism of Democratic leaders, calls for abolishing police and prisons, opposition to deportations, and inflammatory remarks about U.S. institutions and foreign policy. She was also part of a campus group at Columbia University that called for "Death to America" after helping to lead protests against the Israel-Hamas war.
Further backlash stemmed from Chevalier's past comments on Dominican nationalism. She had previously stated she did not display the Dominican flag on her social media profile, viewing nationalism as "violent." These remarks drew criticism in the heavily Dominican-American district, where some voters questioned her stance on Dominican identity and culture.
During the radio interview, hosts attempted to allow Chevalier to address the community. When asked to address the Dominican community that may feel hurt by her past statements, she expressed general regret but emphasized the need to unite and "fight for the things that are necessary for the community." When pressed specifically about the Dominican flag controversy, Chevalier stated her focus was on "the issues that are impacting the residents of New York 13" and her commitment to fighting for the district's residents.
However, when a third host continued to press the issue, Chevalier interrupted, stating, "I am not going to sit here and be yelled at by various people," and asserted she had already addressed the matter. She then removed her headphones and left the studio.
The controversy surrounding Chevalier's past posts has been a defining issue in her primary challenge against Espaillat. Chevalier has argued that the focus on her old posts distracts from current policy issues and has stated she has evolved since many of the comments were made, framing the criticism as an effort to undermine her campaign. She has acknowledged and apologized for some past rhetoric, including comments directed at former Vice President Kamala Harris, but has continued to defend other positions, such as her opposition to deportations, a stance that has drawn criticism from opponents.