Rangel Challenger Seeks Recount or New Primary Election

Lawyers for State Sen. Adriano Espaillat re-filed papers Tuesday in State Supreme Court in the Bronx

State Sen. Adriano Espaillat has broadened his court challenge to his apparent New York primary loss to U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel to include the possibility of a new election.

Lawyers for Espaillat refiled papers Tuesday in State Supreme Court in the Bronx. A judge on Monday had allowed them to withdraw an initial petition so that their arguments could be adjusted and refiled.

According to the most recent count, Espaillat came within around 800 votes of Rangel in the bid to represent the 13th Congressional District.

In the papers Espaillat pushes for a recount in last week's election and adds the possibility of a new vote if it is found that fraud and irregularity made a fair recount impossible.

Rangel's campaign manager said he hadn't seen the papers and couldn't comment.

The city Board of Elections is expected to start counting absentee and affidavit ballots on Thursday.

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