Mamdani's Highest-Stakes Endorsement Yet

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has used his political influence to support allies in state and federal races. He endorsed Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist and community organizer, for the 13th Congressional District covering upper Manhattan and part of the Bronx. Mamdani appeared with her on MS NOW’s The Briefing with Jen Psaki to announce his support. He described her background as rooted in serving people left behind by politics. He cited her work securing the release of neighbors from ICE custody and her involvement in affordability efforts. Mamdani framed the endorsement as part of an affordability agenda spanning New York City and Washington, D.C. This endorsement follows two other congressional endorsements earlier in the cycle.

"Mamdani appeared with Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist and community organizer, on MS NOW's The Briefing with Jen Psaki to announce that he would back her run in the 13th Congressional District, which spans upper Manhattan and part of the Bronx. "She is the daughter of a single mom caseworker, and she grew up with a commitment to the very people that politics have left behind. And what I see in her is that commitment fulfilled," Mamdani said."

""This is a New Yorker who has not only secured the release of our neighbors from undue ICE custody, also someone who has been on the front lines of that fight for affordability. And I can't wait for her to be introduced to so many across this city and across this country as we fight for that affordability agenda from New York City to D.C." Mamdani’s remarks tied the campaign to immigration relief and affordability priorities."

"This is the third time Mamdani has weighed in on a congressional race this cycle. Last year, former comptroller Brad Lander launched his bid challenging Representative Dan Goldman in the lower Manhattan and brownstone Brooklyn-based Tenth Congressional District with Mamdani's support. (Lander is leading widely, per a recent poll.) In January, the mayor backed first-term assemblymember Claire Valdez in the race to succeed outgoing Representative Nydia Velázquez in the Seventh Congressional District, which covers parts of Brooklyn and Queens."

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