Darializa Avila Chevalier, a socialist congressional candidate, left a live radio interview on June 24 after being questioned about her past social media posts. The interview took place on Spanish-language station La Mega, shortly before she won the Democratic primary against incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in New York's 13th Congressional District. Avila Chevalier, supported by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America, faced scrutiny over archived posts that included criticism of Democratic leaders and calls for abolishing police and prisons.
During the interview, hosts attempted to address her controversial remarks, including those related to Dominican nationalism and her stance on U.S. institutions. Avila Chevalier expressed regret over her past tweets but emphasized her focus on current issues affecting her district. After being pressed further, she stated, "I am not going to sit here and be yelled at by various people" before leaving the studio.
The scrutiny of her past comments has become a significant issue in the primary race. Avila Chevalier has argued that the focus on her old posts detracts from current policy discussions and has stated that she has evolved since those comments were made. She has acknowledged and apologized for some past rhetoric but continues to defend her position on immigration, asserting that she believes "all deportations are wrong." The ongoing controversy raises questions about whether voters will overlook her past as she seeks to gain support in the predominantly Democratic district.