Three candidates backed by New York City Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani won their respective primaries on Tuesday, with two defeating incumbent Democrats. The victories have sparked debate within the broader Democratic Party over the direction of the party and its relationship with democratic socialist candidates.
Darializa Avila Chevalier won the Democratic nomination for New York's 13th Congressional District. She is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, according to reporting on her background.
The source material provides limited direct information about Avila Chevalier's policy positions from or official DSA sources. The article primarily cites conservative and moderate critics of her candidacy rather than presenting her own stated views.
What the Right Is Saying
Moderate Democrat Meghan Hays, who served as an adviser to former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, expressed frustration with the direction of the party in comments to Fox News. 'What is really frustrating to me as a Democrat — and I know I'm very moderate — but why aren't people in the party standing up to these folks?' she asked. 'Why aren't more people endorsing? Why aren't people saying, in these purple districts that are super important to take back the majority of the House... We won't stand for this?'
Liberal attorney and Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz argued that democratic socialists were not true Democrats. 'If the Socialists pretend to be Democrats — and if the Democrats welcome them in — then they're gonna win elections on the basis of fraud,' he said.
Democratic strategist James Carville took a more forceful stance, telling Fox News: 'I don't have anything in common with Ms Chevalier, and I really don't want to be in the same party she's in. This is a bridge too far.'
Comedian Bill Maher drew distinctions between Mamdani's preferred candidates and mainstream Democrats during an HBO segment.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive voices and DSA members did not provide direct statements to the source outlet. Without quotes from winning candidates or party allies, readers are left to infer progressive positions from secondary coverage.
What the Numbers Show
Three DSA-backed candidates won their primaries on Tuesday, with two defeating incumbent Democrats, according to the source material. Fifteen Democratic House members and candidates have signed onto the Promise to America pledge promoting capitalism and traditional American ideals over socialism and abolishing police. The specific district results for NY-13th Congressional District are noted in the reporting.
The Bottom Line
The primary victories of DSA-backed candidates in New York have intensified existing tensions within the Democratic Party between progressive and moderate factions. Without direct statements from Avila Chevalier or other winning candidates about their policy positions and goals, readers are left to rely on characterizations by critics for information about their platforms.