Political commentator Bill Maher sharply criticized Darializa Avila Chevalier, a socialist candidate supported by New York City Council Member Zohran Mamdani, following her recent Democratic primary victory for New York's 13th Congressional District. Chevalier's win drew attention to her controversial responses on issues like incarceration and deportation, as well as past social media posts critical of the United States.
During the opening monologue of "Real Time with Bill Maher," Maher highlighted an interview Chevalier had with the New York Editorial Board, where she reportedly declined to state directly whether a convicted murderer should be imprisoned.
"The New York Times asked her, ‘If someone murders someone randomly, should they go to jail?’ Couldn’t get her to say yes for that," Maher remarked. "So, there is a woke mind virus, and I think we found patient zero. Her name is Darializa Avila Chevalier."
Chevalier, 32, secured her primary win on Tuesday, defeating incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat, a Democrat from New York and chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Chevalier garnered 49.4% of the votes, while Espaillat received 45.9%.
Critiques on Incarceration and National Identity
Maher also referenced previous statements attributed to Chevalier regarding the United States and her reported intention to kneel during the congressional oath of office.
"She also says that the United States, the country she’s running to be a part of, is occupied native land, and says this country, America, is a f---ing disgrace," Maher stated. "During the oath of office, she’s going to take a knee."
During her interview with the New York Editorial Board, Chevalier was questioned multiple times about how her abolitionist perspective would apply to individuals convicted of murder. She acknowledged that incarceration is the current practice within the existing system but did not explicitly endorse it as a solution.
"The fact that the murder happened is tragic. The fact that there was a circumstance in which that could even come to pass is tragic, and all of that is a reflection of systems that allowed that circumstance to be possible," Avila Chevalier explained.
Abolitionist Stances and Policy Platform
Furthermore, Chevalier informed the board of her complete opposition to deportations under any circumstances.
"I am not OK with any deportation," she asserted. "I think all deportation is wrong because I think it is an incredibly cruel punishment that is really only relegated to people on the basis of where they were born."
Her campaign platform includes several progressive proposals, such as "Abolish ICE," "Medicare for All," "Housing for All," and a "Babies, not Bombs" initiative. According to her campaign website, she aims to "fight to abolish the deportation machine" and "divest" funds currently allocated to international conflicts.
The New York Times has previously characterized Chevalier as a candidate who has "voiced support for abolishing the police, borders and prisons and seizing property from landlords."
