WASHINGTON — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sharply criticized New York socialist congressional nominee Darializa Avila Chevalier, saying Democrats may be heading toward a defining fight over the party’s future direction.
“Her district voted for her, but I have profound differences from that particular candidate,” Shapiro (D) said plainly Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“And she’s not someone who seemingly I would agree with on many things or that we share similar values,” he continued. “She ran on the Democratic ticket; I guess [she] is a socialist. Her voters in that district determined that she was the one they wanted representing her.”
Chevalier last month defeated Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) in New York’s heavily Democratic 13th Congressional District, which includes sections of Upper Manhattan and the West Bronx.
The self-identified democratic socialist has previously embraced a number of far-left positions, including calls to abolish prisons and eliminate Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), while also making incendiary remarks about former President Joe Biden and claiming she wiped her dirty hands on the American flag.
“I think what our party has to go through that will be very healthy, and something we’ve not really done since the 1992 election cycle, is to have a battle over what we believe in,” Shapiro argued.
Shapiro is generally viewed as a more moderate Democrat, although he has typically been more cautious than Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) when it comes to publicly confronting the party’s left flank.
Chevalier also built much of her campaign around opposition to Israel, a stance that could complicate matters for Shapiro if he pursues the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
Shapiro sidestepped a question about how his Jewish identity would impact his prospects of becoming the Democrats’ presidential standard-bearer in two years, given where the party is on Israel.
“I think Pennsylvania is the ultimate swing state,” Shapiro replied when asked. “What I have found in my years of service in government is that the public wants you to be who you are. Be authentic.
“My faith teaches me that no one’s required to complete the task, but neither are we free to refrain from it,” he added. “That’s what my faith teaches me. That’s how my family raised me. That is who I am, and I’m not going to apologize for it.”
