Darializa Avila Chevalier Defeats Adriano Espaillat in NY Democratic Primary

Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32‑year‑old Dominican‑American sociologist, won the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th congressional district, unseating five‑term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat. With roughly 49 % of the vote against Espaillat’s 46 % as 88 % of ballots were counted, she secured about 30,500 votes. Her campaign was endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose support highlighted a shift toward progressive and pro‑Palestinian positions among Democratic voters.

The victory marks a break from long‑standing incumbency, underscores the rising influence of younger, female, and Dominican‑heritage candidates, and reflects broader changes in the party’s stance on Israel. Avila Chevalier’s win also points to demographic trends in the district, where younger voters and college‑educated residents favored her, while Espaillat retained stronger support in traditionally Black and Hispanic neighborhoods. She will face Republican nominee Manuel Williams in the November general election, where she is favored to win.