Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s newly endorsed candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives has faced scrutiny for seemingly dodging questions about past remarks. Darializa Avila Chevalier has been accused of suggesting that the U.S. has been aggressive toward Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict, echoing sentiments similar to those of President Vladimir Putin.
“I’m not sure about the context of that tweet,” Avila Chevalier told a reporter from a major news outlet, visibly flustered.
The reporter pressed her for clarification, even referencing some of her earlier posts, but she remained non-responsive, leading her team to cut the interview short.
Avila Chevalier, whose earlier social media activity has become a focal point of her campaign, reiterated positions that resonate with Russian leadership dating back to 2022.
“The Cold War is over, but we’ve continued to bully Russia,” she once asserted in an online discussion, where a participant questioned the U.S. involvement in the conflict. “And war tends to benefit those with sociopathic tendencies,” she added.
In a conversation with reporters, Avila Chevalier mentioned receiving an online communication that prompted her reflections, but she didn’t elaborate on the identity of the “sociopaths” she referred to.
Until recently, the primary race for the 13th New York City Council seat was not on the radar for most New Yorkers, but that changed when Mamdani received a surprising endorsement from fellow Democratic Socialists. Avila Chevalier is running against incumbent Congressman Adriano Espaillat, who has the support of Governor Kathy Hochul.
