Tuesday is Primary Day in New York, and one of the biggest congressional races is for the 13th District. For the first time since 1971, Charles Rangel won't be on the ballot as he is finally retiring after more than four decades in Congress.
Now nine candidates are running for his seat in a district that goes from Harlem though Washington Heights and into the Bronx.
After 46 years in Congress, Rangel says the man to follow in his footsteps is New York Assemblyman Keith Wright.
*As of the time of the post 5:34 AM EST Adriano Espaillat has yet to concede.
[SOURCE: NY DAILY NEWS] Rep. Charles Rangel, the Lion of Harlem, roared one last time Tuesday night, beating back a fierce challenge from state Sen. Adriano Espaillat to win a 23rd and final term in Congress.
With 100% of the precincts reporting, Rangel had 47.4% of the vote to 43.6% for Espaillat, a margin of about 1,800 ballots in the 13th District Democratic Primary.
It was Rep. Charles Rangel's turn to speak in a debate against two rivals hoping to end the New York Democrat's 44-year congressional career. Instead of addressing the audience, though, the 84-year-old Rangel casually picked up his phone, pretended to take a call and mocked his opponents in a folksy, conversational voice as they sat seething beside him.
It was classic Rangel, using humor and hubris while trying to undermine his much younger and less experienced challengers: State Sen. Adriano Espaillat, 59, and the Rev. Michael Walrond Jr., 41, a Harlem pastor. But the audience laughter that Rangel drew for his make-believe phone chat may not translate to voter support, which Rangel sorely needs if he is to overcome threats in Tuesday's primary.
In a double dose of bad news for Rangel this week, the New York Times on Thursday endorsed Espaillat, who ran against Rangel in 2012; and Mayor Bill de Blasio pointedly refused to endorse anyone, denying Rangel the powerful mayoral nod that he had enjoyed under former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
Read more: Rep. Charles Rangel, 84, tries humor to fend off younger challengers
