Former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke has publicly praised Darializa Avila Chevalier, a Democratic congressional nominee in New York’s 13th Congressional District, for her stance on interracial marriage. Chevalier, who identifies as Afro-Latina, attracted controversy for a deleted 2019 social media post where she criticized "Black men" and "Arab men" for "fetishizing ugly colonizer women." Duke, in an interview with the Washington Free Beacon, agreed with her perspective, stating, "Well, I think that people have the right to preserve their particular heritage."
Chevalier, part of a cohort of socialist candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, won the Democratic primary in June. Duke, who served in the Louisiana House of Representatives (1989–1992) and led the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (1974–1980), has a history of extremist politics. Some political observers have drawn parallels between Chevalier and Duke, with one unnamed Democrat calling her "our David Duke."
Former Republican congressman Peter Meijer noted that the Democratic Party would likely not disavow Chevalier as the GOP did with Duke. Meanwhile, James Carville, a Democratic strategist, has criticized Chevalier’s views as "a bridge too far."
Background on Controversial Posts
Chevalier’s deleted social media post was not her only controversial statement. She has also faced scrutiny for praising communism and Marxism in other deleted posts. These revelations have reignited debates about the influence of socialist candidates within the Democratic Party.
Political Reactions
The praise from Duke has sparked backlash, with critics arguing that Chevalier’s rhetoric aligns with white nationalist talking points. Supporters, however, frame her statements as a defense of cultural identity rather than racial exclusion. The incident has raised questions about the Democratic Party’s stance on extremism and the role of socialist candidates in mainstream politics.