Former KKK Grand Wizard Commends Democratic Nominee's Views on Interracial Relationships

David Duke, a former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, recently conveyed his agreement with a Democratic congressional nominee on an unexpected topic: interracial relationships.

Darializa Avila Chevalier, who secured the Democratic primary nomination in New York’s 13th Congressional District, garnered attention during her campaign for a social media post from 2019 that has since been deleted. In the post, she criticized "Black men" and "Arab men" for "fetishizing ugly colonizer women."

This sentiment resonated with Duke, who offered his commendation.

"Well, I think that people have the right to preserve their particular heritage," the former KKK leader stated in a phone interview with a conservative news outlet. "And if she's concerned about preserving her heritage if it's Somali, or whatever she is, she's certainly got the right to do that."

Chevalier identifies as Afro-Latina. She was among a group of socialist candidates, backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who achieved success in New York’s June Democratic primary elections.

Background of David Duke and Political Reactions

Duke's history includes serving in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1989 to 1992, following many years of involvement in extremist political movements. He held the position of grand wizard for the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan from 1974 to 1980, a title designating the organization's national leader.

Even before Duke publicly voiced his approval for Chevalier, some political observers began drawing comparisons between them.

"Chevalier is our David Duke," an unnamed Democrat reportedly told journalist Mark Halperin in June. "She is poisoning the possibility of a Democratic majority."

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Former Republican congressman Peter Meijer remarked on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday that "the difference is that the modern Democratic Party would never do to Chevalier what the GOP did to David Duke."

Duke famously ran for Louisiana governor in 1991 as a Republican, after securing second place in the state's nonpartisan primary. Amid significant national controversy, the Republican Party declined to endorse Duke, instead supporting Democrat Edwin Edwards.

In contrast, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries congratulated Chevalier on her primary win in a social media post on Saturday. Given that New York’s 13th Congressional District is a strongly Democratic area, Chevalier's election to the House of Representatives in November is considered highly probable.

Broader Patterns of Support and Controversy

Duke has previously expressed favorable opinions toward various Democrats in recent years, often citing their shared criticism of Israel.

In 2019, after Representative Ilhan Omar faced accusations of implying Jewish lawmakers held dual loyalty to Israel, Duke posted on his website: "By defiance to (Zionist occupied government) Ilhan Omar is NOW the most important Member of the US Congress!"

Duke has a history of making antisemitic statements, having referred to Jews as "a blight" who should "go into the ashcan of history."

The former KKK leader also offered praise for Mamdani during his interview with the conservative outlet.

"I think that the new mayor of New York was a step forward," Duke stated, according to the publication, although he acknowledged disagreeing with Mamdani on immigration policy. "His views on Israel are critical, because there's no more important political issue than the fact that a tiny minority of America … the oligarchs of the Jewish people, that they are controlling our foreign policy."

This incident underscores a potential political vulnerability for certain progressive Democrats, who are facing increasing scrutiny over allegations of antisemitism within their political faction. Duke’s endorsement of Chevalier — along with his past support for other Democrats who have drawn accusations of antisemitism — provides critics from both major parties with a new opportunity to challenge the Democratic Party’s emerging socialist wing.