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Mayor Zohran Mamdani decided to double down this week after a firestorm blew up around his endorsement of Darializa Avila Chevalier. When old, deleted social media posts resurfaced showing the candidate calling the United States “a f***ing disgrace” and pushing radical ideas, the mayor told reporters he “had not seen those tweets” and that her “views have evolved.” That answer won’t calm voters who want accountability and common sense in New York’s 13th District.
Mamdani stands by his pick — and his excuse
Make no mistake: an endorsement from Mayor Zohran Mamdani carries weight. So when he backs a Democratic‑Socialist insurgent like Darializa Avila Chevalier over Representative Adriano Espaillat, voters deserve more than a shrug. Saying he didn’t see the archived posts before endorsing her is a weak excuse. Mamdani and Avila Chevalier are part of the same activist circles. Either the mayor did no basic vetting, or he knew and chose politics over judgment.
What the deleted posts showed
The material uncovered by reporters and independent reviewers isn’t garden‑variety trash talk. CNN’s KFile and other outlets compiled posts that celebrated abolishing police, prisons, and borders, smeared U.S. service members, attacked political leaders with profanity, and re‑posted content denying Israel’s existence. Avila Chevalier tells reporters she “has grown considerably.” That may be true — people change — but voters deserve specifics: which posts does she renounce, when did she change her mind, and why should New Yorkers trust an account scrubbed only after it blew up?
Why this matters for the NY‑13 primary and beyond
This contest is not just local drama. The NY‑13 primary has become a test between the party establishment and the rising Democratic‑Socialist wing. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other leaders have rallied to Representative Adriano Espaillat, and outside groups are pouring money into the race. That’s because the stakes are real: national security stances, support for allies, and basic respect for veterans and neighbors are on the line. Endorsing a candidate with a trail of inflammatory posts — then offering a bland “evolved” line when they resurface — looks like politics of convenience, not principle.
What to watch next
Look for two things: clarity and consequences. Avila Chevalier should provide clear answers about specific posts and a timeline for her stated growth. Mayor Mamdani should explain how he vets endorsements and whether he stands by Avila Chevalier’s new platform or the old account. Voters in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx will soon decide whether rhetoric or record matters. For anyone who still believes words don’t matter, the next few weeks are a lesson in how social media archives and real campaigns collide — and who pays the price for sloppy judgment.
