Bill Maher Critiques Darializa Avila Chevalier Following Primary Win
Bill Maher Comments on Social Media Posts and Political Stances
On Friday, Bill Maher targeted Darializa Avila Chevalier, recently supported by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, after her victory in the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District. Avila Chevalier gained attention due to her views on prisons, deportation, and prior anti-American social media messages.
During his show “Real Time with Bill Maher,” Maher criticized Avila Chevalier for not clearly answering whether a convicted murderer should be imprisoned in an interview with the New York Editorial Board. “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 explained. He further accused her of being a victim of the “woke mind virus,” suggesting she is its origin. Maher specifically identified her as “patient zero.”
Election Details and Controversial Statements
At 32, Avila Chevalier defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the primary, capturing 49.4% of the vote compared to Espaillat’s 45.9%. Maher continued his critique, referencing previous statements where Avila Chevalier described the United States as “occupied native land” and called America “a f—ing disgrace.” He noted that during the congressional oath, she plans to kneel as an act of protest.
Campaign photos show Avila Chevalier alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders and Mayor Mamdani during a rally at King’s Theater in New York City, reinforcing her socialist affiliations.
Editorial Board Interview and Campaign Platform
The New York Editorial Board questioned Avila Chevalier about her abolitionist approach to handling murderers. Though she mentioned that incarceration is part of the current system, she stopped short of endorsing it directly. “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 stated.
Her stance against deportation is equally firm, declaring, “I am not OK with any deportation. 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.” Avila Chevalier’s campaign platform, according to her website, calls for the abolition of ICE, Medicare for All, Housing for All, and a “Babies, not Bombs” agenda.
Her radical ideas extend to advocating for the dismantling of the deportation system and reallocation of funds spent on wars to domestic programs. The New York Times has described Avila Chevalier as a candidate who supports abolishing the police, borders, and prisons as well as expropriating property from landlords.
Fox News Digital reached out to Darializa Avila Chevalier for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
CJ Womack, an associate editor at Fox News, emphasized the impact of journalism on politics and culture through his reporting. His experience in analyzing media dates back to his academic background at Long Beach State University, where he graduated in 2025 with a degree in Political Science and Journalism.