Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Saturday kept up his support for a left-wing Democratic congressional hopeful who previously branded the United States “a f–ing disgrace,” calling her a “perfect candidate.”
Speaking to reporters gathered near early-voting sites at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the Upper East Side ahead of Tuesday’s primaries, Mamdani praised Democratic Socialists of America-backed challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier.
Mamdani has endorsed Avila Chevalier, 32, against Harlem Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the Democratic primary for the 13th Congressional District, which covers portions of northern Manhattan and the West Bronx.
Avila Chevalier has drawn intense criticism after a string of inflammatory, now-deleted social media posts surfaced in recent months, including comments that called the US “a f–ing disgrace,” attacked police and accused veterans of committing “war crimes.”
“I forgot to get napkins so I just wiped my hand on the American flag behind me,” she wrote online in 2019, adding a smiling face emoji.
“I think Darializa is the perfect candidate for the race,” Mamdani said Saturday.
Earlier this month, Mamdani said he had not seen the posts before giving Avila Chevalier his endorsement.
He also used the appearance to tout two other left-wing congressional candidates, Claire Valdez and Brad Lander.
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Valdez, a Queens assemblywoman and DSA member, is vying for an open seat in the 7th District covering waterfront neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens that has been dubbed the “Commie Corridor” for its huge concentration of DSA and other far-left voters.
Outgoing longtime Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who is retiring, has endorsed Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso against Valdez in the primary.
Far-left ex-City Comptroller Brad Lander got Mamdani’s nod over incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman in the DSA-friendly 10th District covering brownstone Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan.
“I do wish that every New Yorker has the chance to vote for Darializa Avila Chevalier, for Claire Valdez, for Brad Lander,” said the mayor. “Three congressional candidates that I’m so excited to have endorsed, who would be incredible partners in the fight to make the world’s, the country’s most expensive city, into one that’s affordable.”
His radical push is part of what many operatives and pundits believe is a long-term effort by him and other socialists to take control of the Democratic Party.
Meanwhile, the mayor was mum on the contest to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-Manhattan).
“I’m gonna be keeping my vote in this race between myself, the ballot, and that incredible pen that the Board of Elections gives to every voter,” the socialist told reporters after casting his ballot during early voting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the Upper East Side ahead of Tuesday’s primaries.
The 12th Congressional District race includes Upper East Side Assemblyman and former top Nadler aide Micah Lasher; East Side Assemblyman Alex Bores; Jack Schlossberg, grandson of former President John F. Kennedy; Nina Schwalbe, a public health researcher; and George Conway, a lawyer and President Donald Trump-hating former Republican.
Nadler (D-Manhattan) is backing his protégé, Lasher.
