Mamdani staff clash with endorsed candidate over ICE shooting rhetoric
The mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, is in a reported dispute with his endorsed House candidate, Darializa Avila Chevalier, after she criticized NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The New York Post reports that Mamdani's staff is angry about the attacks. The tension followed an incident earlier this month where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot an illegal immigrant. The New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, a group Chevalier belongs to, called on Mamdani to remove Tisch. Mamdani said he was reviewing the circumstances but stated on Tuesday that he had no plans to change the police commissioner. "Jessica Tisch is the police commissioner. I have no plans to change that," Mamdani told reporters.
The mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, is in a reported dispute with his endorsed House candidate, Darializa Avila Chevalier, after she criticized NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The New York Post reports that Mamdani's staff is angry about the attacks. The tension followed an incident earlier this month where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot an illegal immigrant. The New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, a group Chevalier belongs to, called on Mamdani to remove Tisch. Mamdani said he was reviewing the circumstances but stated on Tuesday that he had no plans to change the police commissioner. "Jessica Tisch is the police commissioner. I have no plans to change that," Mamdani told reporters.
Despite receiving an endorsement from Mamdani, Chevalier joined critics demanding Tisch's removal. City Hall sources described this as a direct undermining of the mayor. One source told the New York Post that staff were upset about Chevalier's social media activity and public rhetoric regarding the NYPD. City Hall reportedly asked what she was doing. Another source noted that while Chevalier uses strong rhetoric to rally support, instigating does not help. The New York Post reported that sources viewed Chevalier as a known potential liability for the administration for some time and were surprised by how quickly she became a problem. One source characterized her as a loose cannon, stating that staff are sick of her even before she begins service in Congress.
Fox News Digital reached out to Chevalier's campaign and City Hall for comment. During an appearance with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, Chevalier criticized Tisch for highlighting the criminal history of Oscar Belgal, the 28-year-old Dominican Republic national shot during the immigration operation. Chevalier said she was angry listening to the remarks but noted that the specific details do not even matter.
The NYPD defended Tisch in a statement to Fox News Digital, asserting that the commissioner was providing a factual update and that criminal history is standard in incident updates when available. New York State Republican Party Director of Communications David Laska criticized the Democratic Party for leaving Mamdani as a voice of reason. Laska accused Mamdani of helping create a monster with years of anti-American and antisemitic rhetoric, adding that history reminds people even Robespierre was guillotined in the end.