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.
Black congressman Rep Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Charles Rangel spoke out on the unsurprising decision by a grand jury not to indict the cop that killed Eric Garner. Hear their comments below:
*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.
African American Reports reached out to the campaign of NY Congressman Charles Rangel on this busy primary day to ask why voters should support the 21 term congressman again. The campaign made the statement below:
I need you to vote for me today so that I can keep working with President Obama for the final two years of his administration. There's so much to do: raising the minimum wage, creating jobs, building more affordable housing, passing the DREAM Act and immigration reform and protecting the Affordable Care Act. I've been a leader on all of those, standing up against Tea Party Republicans who want our President to fail, and we still need a champion for our values.
It's been humbling enjoying the endorsements of fellow elected leaders including Governor Cuomo, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, Public Advocate Tish James and so many of my colleagues in Congress. I've been honored to gain the support of unions, the Daily News and friends like you. It's reminded me just how much we need strong leadership that delivers for our communities.
But those expressions of support aren't enough: what I really need is your vote today.
Charles Rangel's website http://www.charlierangel.org/meet_charlie
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
