Zomentum’s Surge
The socialist wave in New York City is evident. Candidates backed by Mayor Zoran Mamdani, who holds leftist views, emerged victorious in the recent Democratic primary, with Dalializa Avila Chevalier poised for a significant upset reminiscent of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s rise.
Former City Comptroller Brad Lander and state Rep. Claire Valdez were predicted to triumph over their more traditional Democratic opponents, according to reports from The Associated Press and NY1.
Avila Chevalier was leading Rep. Adriano Espaillat with about 49.3% of the votes counted late Tuesday, signaling a strong possibility that the five-term incumbent will step aside.
The anticipated victory of Avila Chevalier, along with expected wins by candidates from the Democratic Socialists of America in the state races, indicates that Mamdani might be able to spread his influence from New York City to Washington, D.C.
“Now, voters can choose who will work with them on affordability,” Mamdani said, although he appeared to stumble when mentioning Lander’s backing.
Avila Chevalier’s potential win echoes Ocasio-Cortez’s surprising triumph over Democrat Joe Crowley back in 2018. Mamdani had endorsed Avila Chevalier, Lander, and Valdez, claiming that Avila Chevalier would aid in advancing his agenda related to affordability on a national scale.
Currently, only two DSA members serve in Congress: Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Rashida Tlaib. Avila Chevalier and Valdez’s primary wins in their respective districts have brought more leftist candidates closer to the congressional seat, much to the delight of their supporters.
Their stances include labeling the actions of Israel in Gaza as genocide and promoting pro-Palestinian values, which were once considered fringe ideas within the Democratic Party.
Both candidates expressed strong opposition to Israel and called for the complete divestment from Israel, along with a halt to U.S. arms sales to Middle Eastern allies. Additionally, Valdez supported Mamdani’s aggressive housing policies aimed at seizing properties from bad landlords.
Interestingly, all three candidates aim to abolish ICE, with Avila Chevalier even suggesting that undocumented individuals should not face deportation.
Lander, although not a DSA member, won Mamdani’s backing following a friendly competition in last year’s mayoral primary. He has long positioned himself as a progressive advocate in New York politics.
Since supporting Mamdani, Lander has adopted a more left-leaning perspective, calling for a “reset” in U.S. relations with Israel as he sees momentum building in his campaign.
He emphasized the need to refuse corporate PAC money from various large entities, asserting that a stronger focus on working families is necessary. He also raised concerns about U.S.-Israel relations.
These issues were central to Lander’s critiques of Israel and his challenge against incumbent U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman.
While Mamdani’s endorsements thrilled DSA supporters, they sparked unease even among allies within establishment Democrats and the progressive Working Families Party. His support for Valdez, influenced by retiring Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez, added another layer of complexity.
Although Velasquez had backed Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso for the district encompassing parts of Brooklyn and Queens, she did so without being affiliated with DSA.
Avila Chevalier’s candidacy raised eyebrows, particularly due to her past controversial social media activity. These posts have led to concerns about Mamdani promoting extremist views, rather than simply critiquing Espaillat.
In response, Avila Chevalier apologized, claiming critics were revisiting past positions she had already moved beyond. However, she expressed frustration about having to address those comments during a radio show confrontation.
Ultimately, these controversies did not derail her campaign. With the vote tally in her favor, Espaillat acknowledged his defeat, remarking, “Tonight wasn’t our night.”
