Newly appointed Socialist Party parliamentary candidate Dalia Lisa Avila Chevalier left a radio interview unexpectedly on Tuesday. She faced questions about her previous social media posts that might impact her campaign against New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat.
Hours after a tense live chat on La Mega, Avila Chevalier managed to clinch victory over Espaillat in New York’s 13th Congressional District, a predominantly Democratic area that includes parts of Manhattan and the Bronx. This was quite a surprise, as Espaillat had held the position for five terms, serving as the chair of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus.
Supported by New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America, Avila Chevalier was hesitant to discuss her earlier comments or social media activity, especially on a significant day like the primary.
The candidate is gearing up for the general election in November, where she stands a good chance of winning the parliamentary seat. Recently, she’s been under scrutiny for her past statements. She has openly criticized Democratic leaders, called for the abolition of police and prisons, opposed deportation, and made contentious remarks about U.S. policies.
Moreover, she played a significant role in protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict at Columbia University and was associated with a group that called for “Death to America.”
Avila Chevalier also faced backlash due to her comments on Dominican nationalism and a post where she explained her decision not to showcase the Dominican flag, viewing nationalism as “violent.” This stirred controversy in a district with a substantial Dominican-American community, raising questions about her stance on Dominican identity.
During the radio interview, as multiple hosts pressed her about the issue before the polls closed, she chose to disengage from the conversation. One host suggested she should address the Dominican community regarding her previous comments. Avila Chevalier acknowledged her regret over some of her past tweets but stressed the need to unite to “fight for what our community needs.”
When a third host brought up the subject of her comments on the Dominican flag, she shifted the topic, stating her focus was on the concerns affecting residents in New York 13. Eventually, she grew frustrated, saying she wouldn’t tolerate being yelled at and exited the studio, wishing the hosts a nice day.
This controversy has become a critical aspect of the highly anticipated Democratic primary race between Avila Chevalier and Espaillat, who has represented the district since 2017.
Avila Chevalier argues that concentrating on her past posts distracts from current policy discussions. She believes her views have evolved over time and claims the criticism is part of a larger effort to derail her campaign.
In a recent debate, she recognized and apologized for some earlier remarks, including those made about former Vice President Kamala Harris. Still, she holds firm on certain views, notably her opposition to deportations, stating that she believes “all deportations are wrong,” which has drawn criticism and remains a recurring topic on the campaign trail as voters contemplate differing immigration policies.
The spotlight on Avila Chevalier’s past social media behavior continues to challenge her campaign as it tests whether voters in this strongly Democratic district will overlook her controversial remarks in a bid to broaden appeal across diverse communities.
