Espaillat's loss a political earthquake for House Dems, Hispanic caucus

Five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat was defeated in the Democratic primary Tuesday night in what political observers are calling a stunning upset by newcomer Darializa Avila Chevalier — a political earthquake not just for New York City politics, but also for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which Espaillat chairs. Avila Chevalier was backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani , a fellow democratic socialist who was a kingmaker on Tuesday night, with all three of his progressive picks winning their races. Two of those Mamdani endorsed, including Avila Chevalier, defeated incumbent Democrats. But Espaillat, a power broker in Washington and in the Upper Manhattan and Bronx-based district, was the biggest sitting lawmaker targeted by New York progressives, in what some liberal leaders are calling a progressive Tea Party, similar to the conservative movement that toppled incumbent Republicans in 2010. Espaillat was the first Dominican American elected to Congress and the first formerly undocumented immigrant to serve as a congressional lawmaker. Avila Chevalier is also of Dominican descent and is Muslim. House Democratic leaders downplayed the losses of incumbents to Mamdani-backed candidates in deep-blue New York City districts. They said Wednesday they are focused on battleground districts that will deliver them the 218 seats they need to secure the majority in November. …