Socialist firebrand Darializa Avila Chevalier has won her race for Congress, securing a seat in New York's 13th Congressional District. She was part of a slate of candidates endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani that saw victories on Tuesday night.
Mamdani's backed candidates, including Chevalier, Claire Valdez, and Brad Lander, rode a wave of progressive support in their bids to expand the influence of the left wing of the Democratic Party.
Chevalier, who has made controversial statements about the U.S. and President Joe Biden in the past, defeated her Republican opponent, Jomo Williams, by a significant margin. The Associated Press called the race with Chevalier holding an nearly 80-point lead.
Valdez, another candidate endorsed by Mamdani and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), won the race for the 7th congressional seat in Brooklyn. She secured a 70-point lead over her Republican challenger, Melvin Rivera, when the race was called.
Brad Lander, who lost to Mamdani in the Democratic mayoral primary and was endorsed by Mamdani, also secured a victory in the 10th Congressional District. He faced Republican Jennifer Moore and was leading by approximately 70 points when his victory was announced.
Mamdani had actively campaigned for these candidates, including Chevalier, whose primary victory in June over incumbent Adriano Espaillat was seen as a significant upset. Chevalier had previously referred to President Biden as a "rapist" and a "war criminal."
Chevalier and Valdez have previously been involved in efforts to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security's anti-ICE agenda, a move that could have resulted in a loss of over $200 million in grants for New York City's counter-terrorism efforts.