Controversial Mamdani-backed NY-13 candidate doles out seemingly illegal freebies, from ice cream to World Cup tix

A lefty New York congressional candidate has found herself in hot water for offering freebies to campaign volunteers in exchange for their support. Darializa Avila Chevalier, who is challenging longtime Rep. Adriano Espaillat in New York’s 13th House District, has been accused of violating Federal Election Commission guidelines and potentially running afoul of FIFA regulations.

The controversy stems from Avila Chevalier’s campaign offering covered World Cup tickets to volunteers and free ice cream to early voters. This move has raised concerns among experts, who believe that the perks being offered could be seen as a form of payment for voter turnout, which is strictly prohibited under federal election laws.

The campaign’s Instagram post announcing the ice cream offer for early voters sparked the initial controversy. Volunteers were instructed to show their voting stickers at designated locations in Harlem to receive a token for a free cup of ice cream at Sugar Hill Creamery. While the post mentioned that additional toppings and cones would come at an extra cost, the offer itself raised eyebrows among legal experts.

In addition to the ice cream offer, Avila Chevalier’s campaign also announced that volunteers could win prime seat tickets to the Panama vs. England World Cup match by collecting trading cards for completed canvassing shifts. While the campaign did not disclose whether they paid for the tickets and tokens, the act of promoting and offering such freebies alone could potentially violate FEC rules.

Experts have highlighted the strict rules set by the FEC when it comes to campaign volunteers and the prohibition against offering gifts or payments in exchange for voting. The Department of Justice defines “payment” as anything carrying monetary value, including free food. Campaigns are also not allowed to pay for admission to sporting events, concerts, or other forms of entertainment for volunteers.

Despite the controversy, Avila Chevalier’s campaign has not commented on the issue. The FEC and organizations like FIFA and Sugar Hill Creamery have also remained silent on the matter. Avila Chevalier, who has been endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, is facing criticism over her past social media posts and is trailing behind Espaillat in recent polls.

As Election Day approaches, the controversy surrounding Avila Chevalier’s campaign tactics continues to unfold. The issue serves as a reminder for candidates to be wary of incentivizing volunteer work through gimmicks that could potentially violate federal election laws. Voters will have the final say on Tuesday, following nine days of early voting.