A New York City attorney secured the Republican nomination to take on incumbent Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand this fall, as Rep. Charles Rangel won his 22nd primary despite a recent ethics scandal in Tuesday's primary election.
Wendy Long edged out Nassau County comptroller George Maragos and U.S. Rep. Bob Turner in an election day notable for its low turnout. She held a double-digit lead with more than half the precincts reporting statewide.
Long now faces an uphill battle against Democrat Gillibrand, a three-year incumbent who already has about $10 million in campaign cash.
This will be Gillibrand's second campaign for the Senate since she was appointed in 2009 to replace Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. She won election in 2010 to finish Clinton's term that ends this year.
This time, Gillibrand's running for a full, six-year term.
In the Congressional races, Rangel defeated Adriano Espaillat and three other competitors despite a recent ethics scandal.
The 82-year-old Democrat won his seat in the House of Representatives in 1970 and won re-election every two years since then. He rose to be chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee and was known to deliver for his constituents.
This year was complicated by changing demographics in a redrawn district, strong challengers and lingering clouds from the ethics scandal ahead of Tuesday's primary.
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Because Democrats greatly outnumber Republicans in the city, Rangel is expected to win the general election in November.
In Brooklyn, City Councilman Charles Barron squared off against State Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries in a newly redrawn district that represents Brooklyn and a small section of Queens. With 96 percent of precincts reporting, Jeffries had 72 percent of the vote and Barron had 28 percent of the vote.
Long-time incumbent Nydia Velazquez, whose district covers Brooklyn, lower Manhattan and Queens, also faces a primary challenge from City Councilman Erik Dilan. With 88 percent of precincts reporting, Velasquez had 62 percent of the vote and Dilan had 25 percent.
And in Queens, four Democrats -- Assemblymembers Rory Lancman and Grace Meng, City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley and first-time candidate Dr. Robert Mittman -- are competing in a primary for a seat vacated by departing Rep. Gary Ackerman. With 85 percent of precincts reporting, Meng had 52 percent of the vote, Lancman 28 percent, Crowley 16 percent and Mittman 5 percent.
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