Twitch streamer Hasan Piker appeared at a Brooklyn rally Thursday to support two Democratic Socialists of America-endorsed candidates running for Congress in New York City. The controversial online personality told attendees that the country stands closer to socialism than ever before, urging supporters to seize the political moment. State Assemblywoman Claire Valdez and activist Darializa Avila Chevalier received Piker’s endorsement ahead of the June 23 primary election. Both candidates seek seats in deep-blue districts where primary victories would almost guarantee general election wins.
The rally highlighted growing momentum for socialist candidates in New York City politics. Piker praised the two women as “giants” of the movement during his speech. He emphasized the importance of disciplined organizing to capitalize on what he described as an unprecedented opportunity for progressive change. The event drew attention to the Democratic Socialists of America’s efforts to expand representation in Congress through candidates who openly embrace socialist policies.
Socialist platform focuses on immigration and economic reform
Valdez and Avila Chevalier share similar policy positions that place them on the far-left of the Democratic Party. Both candidates advocate for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and implementing significant tax increases on wealthy Americans. Their platforms also emphasize support for Palestinian causes in foreign policy debates. The candidates benefit from backing by Justice Democrats, the progressive organization that helped launch Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s successful 2018 campaign.
Valdez is running for the seat being vacated by retiring Representative Nydia Velazquez. The district spans progressive neighborhoods in Queens and Brooklyn. Meanwhile, Avila Chevalier challenges incumbent Representative Adriano Espaillat, who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Her district covers Upper Manhattan and the West Bronx. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has endorsed both candidates, adding municipal political weight to their campaigns.
Controversial social media posts surface during campaign
Avila Chevalier has faced scrutiny over deleted social media posts that emerged during the campaign. The posts included statements asserting “Israel doesn’t exist” and expressing literal support for open borders. She also wrote that “all deportation is wrong” in previous online commentary. Additional controversy arose from posts calling former President Joe Biden “a rapist” and writing “F— Kamala Harris” in 2021 after the then-vice president told Guatemalan nationals not to cross the border illegally.
- Deleted posts claimed Israel has no legitimacy as a nation
- Previous statements advocated for completely open immigration policies
- Criticism of Biden and Harris included inflammatory language
- Candidate has defended positions as consistent with progressive values
The resurfaced posts have not dampened support from Mamdani and other socialist allies. They continue to campaign actively for both candidates despite the controversy. Progressive organizations backing the slate argue that the candidates’ current policy positions matter more than past social media activity.
Piker predicts wave of socialist victories across New York
During the rally, Piker suggested that successful campaigns by Valdez and Avila Chevalier would eclipse the significance of Mamdani’s mayoral victory. He predicted that by the end of the midterm elections, multiple socialist candidates would win legislative seats throughout New York City and the broader state. “By the end of these midterms, Zohran will seem unremarkable,” Piker told the crowd. He characterized the candidates as “fighters” who would bring socialist perspectives to legislative decision-making.
The streamer emphasized the power that congressional seats represent in advancing political agendas. He called the level of ideological representation “tremendous” for the socialist movement. At the rally, Valdez jokingly referenced a cardboard cutout of Avila Chevalier on stage, saying it was “the honor of my life to be on a slate with her, with so many of my other socialist comrades.” The comment illustrated the solidarity among Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates.
Mixed results for Piker-backed candidates nationwide
Piker has actively campaigned for socialist candidates across the country with varying degrees of success. Several allies have lost their primary elections, including Saikat Chakrabarti, who served as Ocasio-Cortez’s former chief of staff. Chakrabarti launched an unsuccessful bid to succeed former Speaker Nancy Pelosi representing a California district. The losses demonstrate that socialist candidates face challenges even in progressive areas.
However, Piker scored a notable victory when progressive surgeon Adam Hamawy won his primary for a Democratic-leaning New Jersey House seat. The win showed that candidates aligned with Piker’s political views can succeed in certain districts. The streamer has generated controversy for past comments including statements that “America deserved 9/11” and claims that Hamas is “a thousand times better” than Israel. Despite this backlash, he maintains a large online following and continues to influence progressive political organizing. The New York primaries will test whether his endorsement carries weight with voters in competitive races.
