Mayor Mamdani Backs fellow DSA member Darializa Avila Chevalier in contentious NY-13 congressional race

NEW YORK, NY — On MS NOW’s live program earlier this evening, Mayor Mamdani endorsed fellow DSA member Darializa Avila Chevalier for NY-13, a congressional seat representing Harlem and the Bronx. Zohran’s endorsement of Darializa gives a boost to her insurgent campaign as they head into the final critical weeks before the primary on June 23. 

Darializa is a long-time community organizer with a proven record of fighting for a fairer, more equitable and more affordable New York City. She has successfully fought back against ICE violence, reunited families separated by the federal agency, and provided legal aid to victims of police brutality.

Darializa’s platform brings the fight for an affordable New York to congress where she plans to secure universal healthcare, expand union protections, and divest billions in taxpayer dollars from endless war. 

“Zohran’s endorsement of Darializa’s campaign shows a continued commitment to the movement that delivered his mayoral victory just last year,” said NYC-DSA Co-Chair Gustavo Gordillo. “The millions of New Yorkers that voted him into office are already seeing the benefits of democratic socialism. When democratic socialists are in office, they deliver on their platforms. With more socialists like Darializa and Claire Valdez in congress, the fights for affordability, taxes on the rich, and universal childcare will have more champions in congress who’ll deliver federal support for the affordability agenda.”

Since Mamdani’s historic win in the mayoral race last year, Democratic Socialism is seeing a surge in popularity. Across the country, Democratic Socialist candidates are winning city state and congressional seats. Just last week, the NYT released polling that showed nearly half of registered democratic party voters have a favorable view of socialism. Right here in New York City, the Bronx/Upper Manhattan branch of the NYC-DSA chapter has the fastest growing membership base of the geographic branches within the organization.

“NYC-DSA endorsed Darializa for NY-13 because New Yorkers deserve a representative who will fight Trump’s cruel agenda of deportation and endless war and the current Congressman is not cutting it,” said NYC-DSA Co-Chair Grace Mausser. “Zohran’s endorsement proves that as we take the fight against fascism to the federal level, New York is united behind the vision of a government that works for working class people.”