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Espaillat under fire for taking ICE Contractor campaign contributions
12D AGOUSICENY-13 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

Espaillat under fire for taking ICE Contractor campaign contributions

What's the gist?

Rep. Adriano Espaillat, the first formerly undocumented member of Congress, debated primary challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier, who has Mayor Mamdani's backing, over ICE and campaign contributions.

Context

Espaillat has represented NY-13 since 2017 and chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. He has also gotten the endorsement of the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, despite many of the group's members vocal support for Palestine and Espaillat's campaign accepting money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Chevalier worked on Mamdani's mayoral campaign and is a PhD candidate at Columbia. She has accused Espaillat of accepting campaign money from companies contracting with ICE and the incumbent brought up Chevalier's old, deleted tweets in which she appeared to call those who volunteer for the military “child murderers” and “pro-imperialism.”

Positive takes

Progressive Track Record. Supporters highlight Espaillat's accomplishments like bringing the Second Avenue Subway to connect Harlem and delivering results as a top 5% progressive congressman.
Authentic Voice. Chevalier's backers see her as a genuine community organizer who grew up watching her Dominican immigrant parents struggle and fights for working families.
Anti-Establishment Champion. Progressives argue Chevalier represents a new generation willing to take on corporate power and actually abolish ICE rather than just criticize it.

Negative takes

Inexperienced Extremist. Critics point to Chevalier's past social media posts calling for prison abolition, denying Israel's existence, and mocking veterans as evidence she's too radical for Congress.
Corporate Money Hypocrite. Espaillat supporters note Chevalier receives over $1 million from a Texas millionaire's super PAC while attacking others for taking corporate donations.
Establishment Sellout. Progressives argue Espaillat has become too comfortable taking AIPAC money and refusing to sign onto key progressive bills like the Block the Bombs Act.
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