By Charlie McCarthy | Thursday, June 25, 2026, 11:03 AM EDT
Longtime Democrat strategist James Carville has declared that self-described democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier — the Democratic nominee for New York’s 13th Congressional District — should not be seated in the party’s caucus if she wins her seat.
In an interview, Carville criticized Chevalier following her primary victory over incumbent Representative Adriano Espaillat, arguing her views place her well outside the party’s mainstream. “They should not seat her in the caucus,” Carville stated. “Her views are totally against anything that any Democrat has. We believe in pluralism.”
Carville further asserted that Chevalier “is not a Democrat” and suggested she launch her own political movement rather than run under the Democratic Party banner. “All of these people hate Democrats,” he said of democratic socialists. “Why do you want to run as a Democrat? Start your own movement.”
The strategist specifically cited past social media posts attributed to Chevalier that criticized Democratic leaders, questioned the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, opposed interracial relationships, called for abolishing ICE, and included anti-Israel rhetoric. Carville also drew a sharp distinction between criticizing Israeli government policies and questioning Israel’s right to exist. “You can be hugely anti the policies of the government of Israel,” he said. “But when you say, ‘I don’t think Israel should exist,’ then I don’t have room for you.”
Carville argued that while Chevalier and other democratic socialists are free to express their views, House Democrats must deny them committee assignments and exclude them from the party caucus if they win office. “We just don’t want to be in the same political party with them,” he stated.
Chevalier’s victory has intensified debate over the Democratic Party’s future after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani backed multiple progressive candidates who captured major primary victories, raising questions about whether democratic socialists are reshaping the party ahead of November’s elections.
