Exclusive | Mamdani-backed DSA House candidate trails longtime NY Rep. Espaillat by just 8 points: poll

A controversial far-left insurgent congressional candidate backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani only trails longtime New York Rep.Adriano Espaillat by eight points — just one week before the Democratic primary, a new poll claims.Doctoral candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, who is also supported by the Democratic Socialists of America, bested Espaillat among white voters, 35% to 25%, according to the survey obtained by The Post.Espaillat led among black voters 36% to 21% and Latinos 42% to 30% in the 13th House District that runs through the northern Manhattan neighborhoods of Morningside Heights, Harlem, East Harlem, Washington Heights/Inwood and the western Bronx.Overall, the five-term incumbent only led by a less than comfortable margin — 35% to 27%, according to the survey conducted by Mercury Public Affairs for the pro-Espaillat National Black Empowerment Action Fund.A huge 38% of Democrats — nearly four in 10 — were still undecided according to the survey of 468 likely Democratic primary voters, which was conducted from June 9-11 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.Despite the close race, the poll claimed some of the DSA’s hard left positions are unpopular in the district, as 72% of respondents support school choice and charter schools, and nearly as many oppose defunding the police.“Taken together, the findings suggest that Democratic primary voters in NY-13 remain more aligned with public safety, educational opportunity, and community stability than with the DSA’s most controversial policy positions,” the polling memo said.The NBEAF super Pac plans to spend at least $500,000 to aid Espaillat during the final week of the campaign.

Election Day is June 23 after nine days of early voting that began Saturday.The group is running a digital ad calling Espaillat a “real Democrat” while slamming “extremists” who want to “gentrify your neighborhood.” “This is about making sure the public knows Congressman Espaill...