Avila Chevalier Wins NY-13 Primary; Her Father Collects Rent in Florida

A candidate who publicly called for government seizure of landlord properties won a Democratic congressional primary while her father actively operates as a landlord, a juxtaposition that may...

Darializa Avila Chevalier, 32, defeated five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the Democratic primary for New York's 13th Congressional District, which covers upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx, according to the New York Board of Elections results reported as of June 25, 2026. Avila Chevalier received backing from New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and ran on a Democratic Socialist platform.

Avila Chevalier has previously stated, in public remarks documented by the New York Post, that the government should seize all properties from landlords. The specific venue, date, and full transcript of that statement have not been independently verified by The Congressional Times; the public record that would confirm the exact context and complete wording is a full video or official transcript of the event at which the remark was made.

Separately, the New York Post reported on June 25, 2026 that Avila Chevalier's father currently rents a Miami condominium for $1,750 per month. The property listing or lease agreement that would confirm the rental amount, the duration of the tenancy, and whether the father holds additional rental properties has not been independently reviewed by The Congressional Times. Florida property records, available through the Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser's database, would constitute the public record to verify ownership and any homestead exemption status.

Avila Chevalier's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the relationship between her stated policy position and her father's rental activity, according to the New York Post report. It is unknown whether Avila Chevalier has received any financial benefit from her father's rental income; federal financial disclosure forms, which she will be required to file as a general election candidate and, if elected, as a member of Congress under the Ethics in Government Act, would reveal any such benefit.

The general election for NY-13 is scheduled for November 2026. What remains unknown is whether Avila Chevalier will revise, clarify, or maintain her stated position on landlord property seizure as she enters the general election campaign. A formal policy platform document published by her campaign would be the public record that answers that question.