The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is pouring millions into a New York primary race to protect its chair from an unexpectedly strong insurgent challenge. The effort underscores just how vulnerable Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) appears heading into the June 23 primary in Manhattan and the Bronx.
BOLD America, a super PAC created in 2023 and aligned with the Hispanic Caucus, has spent more than $2.5 million on Espaillat's behalf, making it by far the heaviest spender in the contest. The group was founded by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and former representatives Lucille Roybal-Allard and Filemon Vela to back Hispanic Democratic candidates for Congress.
Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), who chairs the Hispanic Caucus' main political arm BOLD PAC, confirmed that the group is routing its spending through BOLD America rather than directly. She told Axios the caucus is "heavily invested" in Espaillat's reelection bid.
Espaillat faces Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist who has emerged as a serious threat. A recent Data for Progress poll commissioned by Justice Democrats, a group backing Avila Chevalier, shows her leading 39% to 35%. The race has attracted outside money and national attention that few primary contests typically generate.
The scale of the spending disparity is striking. Avila Chevalier's largest backer, the pro-Palestinian super PAC American Priorities, has spent $500,000 so far. BOLD PAC itself reported only $230,000 in direct spending in the district.
The campaign has grown increasingly contentious, with Espaillat's allies running ads that target inflammatory social media posts from Avila Chevalier's past. She has built her campaign around backing from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has touted her work reuniting families separated by immigration enforcement.
When pressed about the money flowing into his race at an Axios event, Espaillat blamed the broader campaign finance system rather than defending the spending itself. He pointed to businessman Hussein Mahrouq's financial support for American Priorities and called for reform of Citizens United, the Supreme Court ruling that unleashed unlimited spending in elections.
"We've got to have campaign finance reform," Espaillat said, "because as long as we have Citizens United, you'll have an unlimited amount of money coming in from a bunch of places."
Early voting begins June 13, with the primary set for two weeks later.
Author James Rodriguez: "The Hispanic Caucus is essentially saying its leader can't win on his own merits, which tells you everything about how much the primary electorate has shifted."
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