Vox
June 16, 2026
Candidate Addresses Deleted Tweets and Past Social Media Use
TL;DR
Congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier explains her decision to delete her Twitter account years ago, clarifying it was not due to running for office, and expresses regret about the rhetoric she used in past tweets while emphasizing the importance of unifying language.
Key Takeaways
- 1Avila Chevalier deleted her entire Twitter account years ago to focus on her PhD and organizing work, not because of her congressional campaign
- 2She acknowledges regret about how she expressed herself on Twitter, noting that her values center on dignity, accountability, and justice
- 3She advocates for using unifying, accessible, and kind language that fosters empathy and understanding rather than divisive rhetoric
- 4She disputes her opponent's narrative that the account deletion was politically motivated
Notable Quotes
“I deleted my entire Twitter account many years ago because I just found it was more productive to just be focused on my PhD and focused on my organizing.”
— Darializa Avila Chevalier
“I do have regrets on how I expressed my values on Twitter because my values are around dignity. It's around accountability. It's around justice. And I think rhetoric matters.”
— Darializa Avila Chevalier
“I think it's deeply important that we use language that is unifying, language that that allows people who might not at first understand where you're coming from, but can still hear you and can come to a place of empathy and understanding.”
— Darializa Avila Chevalier
Chapters
1. Clarifying the Twitter Account Deletion
Avila Chevalier addresses questions about deleting over 3,500 tweets, emphasizing she deleted her entire account years ago for personal reasons—to focus on her PhD and organizing work—not because of her political campaign.
2. Regrets and Evolving Values
She expresses regret about the language and rhetoric she used on Twitter in the past, explaining that her core values around dignity, accountability, and justice are better served by different communication approaches today.
3. The Importance of Unifying Language
Avila Chevalier advocates for using language that is accessible, kind, and unifying—language that allows people to understand her message and find empathy, rather than divisive or harsh rhetoric.
Key People & Entities
- Darializa Avila Chevalier
- Congressional candidate addressing questions about her social media history
Glossary
- Deleted tweets
- Social media posts that have been removed from a user's account, often raising questions about content the user no longer wishes to be publicly associated with