Bill Maher Comments on Democratic Socialists’ Rise in NYC
Bill Maher recently expressed that the election of three “absolutely insane” Democratic Socialists in New York City suggests that Democrats might be on a path to victory in the 2028 election. He made this remark during an interview at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
“The Democratic Party just elected three very far-left Democratic Socialists in New York, and they’re crazy—really, really crazy,” Maher said. He further pondered, “So how are they going to blow it up? I don’t know, but it looks like they’re on track.”
The three Democratic Socialists he referred to are New York State Assemblywoman Claire Valdez, community activist Daria Riza Avila Chevalier, and former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. Each secured victories in recent Democratic primaries for various congressional districts in New York City.
Interestingly, all three candidates had the backing of Democratic Socialist New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani. Valdez, Avila Chevalier, and Lander overcame challenges from notable figures like Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and incumbent Congress members Adriano Espaira and Dan Goldman.
Valdez has made headlines for her strong words against TSA PreCheck and ICE, labeling them as “fascist agencies” and advocating for their abolition while making grave claims about the United States’ history. On the other hand, Avila Chevalier has promoted communism and Marxist ideologies in her now-deleted social media posts.
Her past comments included harsh critiques of the police and even controversial remarks regarding racial dynamics in the U.S. In a particularly striking post, she noted, “I forgot to buy napkins so I just wiped my hands with the American flag behind me.”
As for Lander, he has distanced himself from the Democratic Socialist Party of America (DSA) over its stance concerning Hamas following a recent event involving terrorism in Israel. Despite this, he has drawn attention for his controversial rhetoric, including calls to defund the NYPD and some self-reflective comments about race issues. He was also arrested while trying to access a holding room for detained immigrants in September 2024.
