Carville says he wouldn't seat Mamdani-backed Avila Chevalier in caucus: 'She's not a Democrat'

[AZLD4Candidate]

Source: The Hill

Democratic strategist James Carville said he wouldn’t place Darializa Avila Chevalier, the Democratic nominee for New York’s 13th Congressional District, in the House Democratic Caucus if she wins in November.

“They should not seat her in the caucus. Her views are totally against anything that any Democrat has. We believe in pluralism,” Carville told NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas on Wednesday.

Carville added later that Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist who was backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) in her race, “is not a Democrat.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5940133-james-carville-dems-avila-chevalier/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExWmthNWY3cnlVWjR2bjRhbXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6q_NM8hS2NVBEFYxHzoXwMWkUajKVRN4jm0-RZzgB5yxCyymQf8O_Yt_bnsQ_aem_7_HySjJ5KvpmONfcym7a-w

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When was his expiration date again?

[dave99]

1. So James Carville says Avila Chevalier is NOT a D.I.N.O. , Good

[reACTIONary]

18. Maybe he is saying...

... she IS a Democrat in name only, and "no true Democrat".

[choie]

2. The gatekeepers are on full display today.

Feeling a bit threatened, Carville?

[flashman13]

23. Carville needs to go F himself. The voters are clearly smarter than he is. They know what they want.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. Who's this James Carville guy??

[flashman13]

68. Carville is a Democratic "consultant" that has been working on campaigns since the 1980s.

He hit the big time working on Bill Clinton's campaigns and in that administration. He is the person that coined the slogan, "It's the economy stupid". That slogan is probably the only thing he has done that is still relevant today.

Carville is now just a old hack that pontificates on MSNow and his own pod cast. You could say he is a dinosaur that represents what is wrong with the Democratic party. He doesn't realize that the times and the base of the party have passed him by. I don't think he has any business defining who are the real Democrats.

[Miguelito Loveless]

3. Reason #117

Why I have no use for James Carville.

[DBoon]

4. Can Carville actually do this or is he just blowing smoke?

Sounds like Carville is a make-believe gatekeeper, trying to decide who is and isn't a "True Democrat"

[reACTIONary]

14. He is sharing his opinion and...

... what he would recommend. He has no more authority than any other pundit or "strategist.

[RandySF]

55. No

The Democratic Caucus could hypothetically refuse entry or the full House could, again hypothetically, refuse to seat her.

[GJGCA]

66. tangential correction/clarification (whether full House could refuse to seat her)

It was tried with Adam Clayton Powell:

Since the Supreme Court’s 1969 decision in Powell v. McCormack, the House can only exclude a member-elect who fails to meet the three qualifications spelled out in the Constitution: minimum age, citizenship duration, and state residency.

Source: https://legalclarity.org/when-can-the-house-refuse-to-seat-a-member-elect/

[karynnj]

5. Her views may be closer to the FDR Democrats than his

I old enough to remember when Clinton, aided by Carville and Begala spoke of being " new' Democrats - remember the DLC

That was a shift. Now, we:re seeing another.

As to not letting someone into the caucus, how stupid! Would he change his mind if it gives us the speakers?

[MichMan]

59. She previously called for abolishing police, prisons and borders

That doesn't seem at all like anything FDR would have supported

https://cbs12.com/news/nation-world/mamdani-backed-house-candidates-deleted-posts-called-for-abolishing-police-borders-democratic-socialist-nyc-adriano-espaillat-primary-blm-bernie-sanders-aoc-joe-biden

[karynnj]

65. Completely agree on those issues

Also, I think almost everyone who spoke that way has later claimed that they didn't mean what they literally said instead meaning significant reforms.

I personally am and always have been more moderate on that.

[walkingman]

6. Who gets to decide who is a "Democrat"....easy answer, the voters. ☮

[reACTIONary]

15. No true Scotsman....

... or an appeal to purity. From the perspective of a legal positivist, you are right.

[ananda]

7. And Carville is relevant how?

Sheesh

[reACTIONary]

16. He's on TV. He's being quoted..

... a lot of folks (Democrats) would agree.

[ananda]

25. And as far as I can tell..

they'd all be Republicans.

[reACTIONary]

69. Who the heck are you calling a Republican? In truth...

.... a poll that zeroed in specifically on ideological self identification found that only 35% of Democrats considered themselves to be "democratic socialists." That might suggest there are a good number of Democrats who would look favorably on Carville's opinions.

Other polling shows that about 55% of self identified Democrats consider themselves to be liberal or very liberal; while 34% identify as moderate; and about 9%, conservative. This suggests that even among those Democrats who are liberal or very liberal, there are many that would not consider themselves "democratic socialists," and may have agreement with Carville.

Stepping away from "democratic" socialism specifically, and looking at socialism as a general, binary preference, polling shows Democrats are more positive towards "socialism" than "capitalism;" 66% to 42%, That, again, would indicate that those who might support Carville's opinions have substantial standing in the Democratic party.

I don't think you should denigrate as "Republicans" the many Democrats who are partial towards Carville's assessments.

[bcbink]

78. Thank you.

Well said with plenty of back up.

[duckworth969]

8. Yeah, Carville? Ain't yer call anyway ya pinhead

[Ritabert]

9. Hey Carville how about Fetterman?

[ToxMarz]

10. While we're at it lets list all the places I wouldn't seat Mary Matalin

But you seem to have no problem.giving her oxygen.

[SpankMe]

11. We need numbers in the House

It's all about tactics and strategy in this era, not purist ideology. Even if she's not in line with the DNC's main platform, if she's willing to caucus with Dems, we should take her.

[rampartd]

52. is she too radical for the "squad?"

all of those ladies have been effective spokespersons with good constituent services staff. is that what "the establishment" is afraid of?

[MichMan]

61. There is no change in numbers

These were all safe districts to begin with.

[mopinko]

12. leaving out the part where

she’s a pretty staunch anti-zionist. that’s what his beef is.
i thought israel/gaza was the most important thing on the planet. but let’s not talk about that, huh?

[Laffy Kat]

13. Bernie caucuses with the Democratic party doesn't he?

[reACTIONary]

17. Yep! But....

.... he doesn't call himself a Democrat. He calls himself an Independent. I don't know much about Chevalier, but if she ran as an independent, would she have any chance at all?

[Callie1979]

19. We've got FOUR months to NOT fuck up NOV. Her winning wont help.

She called President Biden a RAPIST
Among a ton of other terrible social media posts
A freaking GIFT to the GOP.
There wasnt anything wrong with the 13th District's CURRENT Rep
Good lord.

[luv2fly]

24. Isn't there some kind of rule about not trashing Democrats?

My memory certainly fails me now and then, but I seem to recall having read something about not bashing Democratic public figures, not peddling right-wing smears... you know... SUPPORTING Democrats.

Maybe it's just me.

[3Hotdogs]

26. If the post quotes or paraphrases the person, it is not a violation of the policy. I am left of the Socialist Dems. My

new N.J. rep is a Soc.Dem.

[luv2fly]

27. Not seeing any quote marks

But my eyes often fail me too....

[Callie1979]

76. So you're more concerned with the use of quotation marks than the statements?

This is exactly what I'm worried about.

See Post #73 for several links to several bad comments & positions.

[luv2fly]

79. No, that's not what I was saying.

Ridiculous.

[KPN]

45. Paraphrases? Do you or the original pster have sources that verify the "paraphrase" (it wasn't a quote)? I mean, if

we are going to bash Democratic Party candidates in a general election, shouldn't we provide sources purported to be facts?

[3Hotdogs]

56. Unfortunately, my source was the reporting on WNYC the morning on Wednesday. She has also promoted fully

open borders and eliminating most police departments and officers. I believe she will win the November election.

As a November candidate, she won't do much harm to the Dem. November election efforts. But if she continues with extreme points of view on the floor of Congress? Not good.

[Callie1979]

74. I agree. And her past WILL be used to paint the entire party like it or not.

But I didnt use quotes in my original post so I'M the bad guy.
This is how we trip over our own shoes.

[Callie1979]

73. So you're telling me you're not aware of all this terrible posts?

It's only been in the news for 2 months.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2026/05/29/espaillats-challenger-really-doesnt-like-establishment-democrats-00942098
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/darializa-avila-chevalier-is-trying-to-weather-her-own-posts.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/24/darializa-avila-chevalier-scrutinized-posts-before-new-york-house-primary-win/

How many legitimate stories do you want?

[SocialDemocrat61]

51. How do you like your Governor?

[murielm99]

36. It's not just you.

There seems to be a lot of that here lately.

[MichMan]

63. Not sure anymore

I've seen plenty of posts saying the most vile things about Sen. Fetterman.

[creeksneakers2]

39. She's against prisons and borders

The GOP is going to use her to smear all our candidates.

[KPN]

43. Sources?

[KPN]

42. Sources?

[MichMan]

60. Here from Post #54

During the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, Avila Chevalier responded to a user asking what a better slogan would be than “defund the police,” by posting, “F-ck you. We’re gonna defund and abolish. You don’t get to water down our movements.”

In another post two days later, Avila Chevalier rejected an argument that abolishing police meant only ending policing “as we know it.”

“No. It means ending policing full stop. Period. No more police at all ever,” she replied, adding several clap emojis between words.

A repost from September 2021 read, “A world without borders—just like a world without prisons or police—is possible, necessary, and the only moral way forward.”

https://cbs12.com/news/nation-world/mamdani-backed-house-candidates-deleted-posts-called-for-abolishing-police-borders-democratic-socialist-nyc-adriano-espaillat-primary-blm-bernie-sanders-aoc-joe-biden

[KPN]

71. Thanks. Fortunately, I don't have the ability to vote for or against her, so I don't have to research further. I would

be interested in seeing those texts directly and having a better understanding of their context. For all I know re: world without borders, she could have been talking simply about an ideal or what the "arc of the universe" would look like.

At any rate, I do agree that this info will jade many voters against her and there is risk to electing Democrats in that for sure.

[Callie1979]

75. Amazing how no one seems to know about her past.

Thanks for the info

[Buddyzbuddy]

20. Back into the dustbin of history you go.

You have to admit, he's a fighter. Too bad it's against progression. Have a Mint Julip and ssshhh, you old coot.

[Scrivener7]

21. That's nice, James.

[hatrack]

28. It's not 1992 anymore, you chicken-fried buffoon . . .

Do try and keep up.

[RandySF]

29. She called Biden a "rapist" in 2020.

Please don’t shoot the messenger.

[VegasVet]

31. Proof?

[RandySF]

32. NYT

She also called Joe Biden a “rapist” in April 2020, as he was on his way to clinching the Democratic nomination for the presidency, though she recently said she voted for him.



https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/23/nyregion/who-is-darializa-avila-chevalier.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

[VegasVet]

46. Thank you for this. Wow. She's a bit much for my taste if this is still what she believes.

[awesomerwb1]

40. Google.com

[VegasVet]

47. No. Someone made a statement. It isn't unreasonable to ask for proof. Don't be obtuse.

[awesomerwb1]

67. Put more effort into it. It's easy

[PurgedVoter]

33. Carville is DLC in other words, corporate owned

I read his book, in no way does he support the views in his book.

[Akakoji]

34. Who last hired him?

[Eko]

35. Maybe he should actually talk to her instead of letting tweets some decades old influence him.

[AllyCat]

37. Carville can eat a bag

[luv2fly]

41. "looney progressives"

How special...

🙄

[RedArkGuy]

49. Could you provide us with some authentic quotes from her . . .

. . . that reveal her for the Marxist/Islamic fundamentalist she is claimed to be?

[AZLD4Candidate]

58. The evidence is in the strawman over there. . .wait, it moved over there, passed another goalpost

[MichMan]

64. See link in post #54

[PufPuf23]

44. Far past the time for Carville to retire from politics.

I question his true motives he sucks so bad.

[RedArkGuy]

48. I keep asking people who are having McCarthyite fits

. . . over these candidates to give me quotations from them that support their claimed fears about these allegedly Marxist/Islamist candidates. I've not received any such quotation yet.

[J_William_Ryan]

50. "democratic socialist"

Are we to assume that ‘democratic socialists’ are Democrats the same way ‘libertarians’ are Republicans.

Or are ‘democratic socialists’ a political party separate and apart from the Democratic Party.

[24601]

72. Libertarians are definitely not Republicans. While they may share an overall view on minimalist government, Libertarians

- oppose the death penalty
- would end the current U.S. government policies of foreign intervention including military and economic aid; tariffs; economic sanctions; and regime change.
- support the decriminalization of prostitution. They assert the right of consenting adults to provide sexual services to clients for compensation, and the right of clients to purchase sexual services from consenting sex workers.
- say that the only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights

There are many more, some that align with us, and some that do not. Here's their platform: https://lp.org/platform-page/

[JBTaurus83]

53. She sought the democratic nomination

And ran under the party name. Who is he to decide what a Democrat is? I’m not a fan of many of his positions. Same for John Fetterman, objectively they are still Democrats though, no matter how much I may disagree with their views.

[RandySF]

54. She didn't seem to like interracial relationships at one point.

Avila Chevalier, in a series of messages, called Joe Biden a “rapist” and “war criminal” during the 2020 presidential election, referred to the U.S. as a “f**king disgrace,” talked about wiping her dirty hands on the American flag, and described interracial relationships involving white females as “fetishizing ugly colonizer women.”

https://cbs12.com/news/nation-world/mamdani-backed-house-candidates-deleted-posts-called-for-abolishing-police-borders-democratic-socialist-nyc-adriano-espaillat-primary-blm-bernie-sanders-aoc-joe-biden

[Javaman]

57. how is Carville still a thing? he must have one hell of an agent. nt

[GiqueCee]

62. Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy...

... let's calm down now; it's time for your meds and a nap. Yes, yes, we know how you get when people prefer to forget you exist.
Do you remember the concept of integrity, Jimmy? No? Well, Ms Avila Chevalier has it. You apparently don't, so it's best if you be quiet now. You're only hurting yourself.

For the terminally obtuse:

[howardmappel]

70. Carville needs to retire his opinions. NOW.

Carville needs to retire his opinions. NOW.

[aeromanKC]

77. Bernie Sanders classified himself as an Independent when he was in the House, but caucused with the D's

[Bettie]

80. Well, since he's not in charge of that

I guess his opinion is worth the same as any of ours.