The Congressional Black Caucus’ political action committee has endorsed Representative Adriano Espaillat, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in his upcoming Democratic primary, nearly a decade after denying his requests to join the group.
Espaillat, an Afro-Latino representing Upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx, had sought CBC membership while in Congress, but his request was rejected despite his identification as a Latino of African descent. Former CBC Chair Karen Bass noted in 2020 that “there was a specific situation that was more important than [Espaillat’s] ethnic background” that prevented his membership.
Representative Gregory Meeks, chair of the CBC’s PAC, emphasized Espaillat’s advocacy for working families, noting that he has been “on the front lines of the fight to make New York City more affordable.”
Espaillat faces a primary challenge from Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 31-year-old Harlem organizer backed by the Justice Democrats and the city’s Democratic Socialists of America chapter. She criticized incumbents for falling short, noting, “every cycle, every elected leader has to prove that they’re still working for the people that elected them, and that they deserve our support.”
The race reflects a broader trend of progressive challenges against established Democrats in New York, as younger, left-leaning candidates seek to reshape the city’s political landscape.
