Historic: AP calls Darializa Ávila Chevalier the winner, the first Dominican woman in the U.S. Congress

The Associated Press (AP) called Democrat Darializa Ávila Chevalier the winner at 9:12 p.m. in the election for New York's 13th District, which covers Washington Heights, Harlem and parts of the Bronx. The call, also confirmed by NBC News, makes her the first woman of Dominican origin elected to the U.S. Congress and the first woman to represent that district.

At the time of the call, with around 52% of precincts reporting, Ávila Chevalier had 92,472 votes to 11,630 for Republican Jomo Williams, according to AP data.

Ávila Chevalier, 32, the daughter of Dominican immigrants, a community organizer and doctoral researcher, stunned the political establishment in June by defeating Congressman Adriano Espaillat in the Democratic primary. Espaillat had sought a sixth term and held the seat since 2017. Her campaign focused on affordable housing, tenant protections and immigrants' rights.

Her win comes on the same night AP called Governor Kathy Hochul reelected in New York. The other races involving Dominican-origin candidates were still pending as of this report. A Lo Claro will keep updating results as AP calls each race.

Photo: A Lo Claro Archive

Source: Associated Press and USA Today