State Sen. Adriano Espaillat won a historic Democratic congressional primary in Harlem Tuesday, defeating retiring Rep. Charles Rangel’s handpicked candidate in a bitterly fought race.
Espaillat beat Rangel-backed state Assemblyman Keith Wright 36.7 to 33.1 percent to take the nomination in the heavily Democratic district and now has a virtual lock on winning November’s general election.
“The voters of the 13th Congressional District made history tonight here in New York City,” Espaillat told supporters.
Wright, however, would not concede defeat in the nine-way race, calling for an investigation into alleged voter suppression.
“No candidate can declare victory tonight,” Wright said. “Not until every vote is counted.
“We worked too long and too hard.”
Espaillat is a native of the Dominican Republic. His win marks a major shift for the Harlem district, which has been represented by African-Americans for the past 70 years.
Wright had the backing of Rangel and other prominent leaders in a district that has remained a black stronghold even as the number of Latino residents has grown.
Wright was also supported by civil rights leader Al Sharpton, who cast opponents of Wright as “Negroes you ain’t never seen before.”
Sharpton made the inflammatory comment last weekend during a Harlem rally attended by Rangel and ex-Mayor David Dinkins.
Rangel first won his congressional seat in 1970 by defeating the legendary Adam Clayton Powell Jr. in the Democratic primary.
Meanwhile, Manhattan/Brooklyn Rep. Jerrold Nadler won the Democratic primary in the 10th Congressional District, likely hanging on to the seat he has held for more than two decades.
Nadler handily defeated a primary challenger — his first in two decades — who attacked the congressman for supporting President Obama’s Iran nuclear deal.
The challenger, Oliver Rosenberg, said constituents had been betrayed by Nadler’s support of the measure. The former investment banker also accused Nadler of being out of touch with voters.
Elsewhere, Democrat Zephyr Teachout won an upstate Democratic primary to replace Hudson Valley Rep. Chris Gibson.
Teachout, who defeated Will Yandik, became a progressive heroine in 2014 by challenging Gov. Andrew Cuomo from the left and grabbing about a third of the Democratic primary vote.
Teachout and Republican John Faso will battle for Gibson’s seat this fall.