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U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel Seeks 23d Term

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Voters turn out for New York Primary
Voters turn out for New York Primary
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday threw his support to U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel in the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District, an endorsement that came with less than 48 hours to go before the polls opened.

Rangel, 84, wass running for his 23rd term in the House of Representatives in a highly contested race. His opponents include state Sen. Adriano Espaillat, who would be the first Dominican-born member of Congress if he wins Tuesday’s primary and the general election.

In endorsing Rangel, Cuomo said his “experience, seniority, and steadfast commitment to improving the lives of New Yorkers continue to make him a critical voice in standing up to the Tea Party extremism that is threatening to take over Washington.”

Rangel has also gained endorsements from Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand as well as former President Bill Clinton.

Espaillat has been endorsed by City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and City Comptroller Scott Stringer. Campaign Manager Jesse Compoamor pointed to those endorsements and others in responding to the Cuomo announcement, saying, “Adriano Espaillat was 1,000 votes away from unseating Congressman Rangel in 2012 as an insurgent with no political support. Two years later, the call for change is even louder.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who once managed a Rangel campaign, has stayed out making any endorsements in the race, and chided Rangel for referencing Espaillat’s ethnic background and saying that he was running because the district had become increasingly Hispanic.

A NY1/Siena College poll released Thursday put Rangel up 13 points over Espaillat. The margin of error was 3.7 percentage points.

New Yorkers then headed to the polls Tuesday to determine who will advance to the November ballot.

He faced a tough challenge to hold onto his seat. In such a heavily Democratic city, the primary winner is widely expected to win the general election in November.

Voting was brisk at P.S. 187, where Espaillat campaigned outside. The state senator sounded confident while taking a jab at his opponent’s lengthy tenure.

“He’s not effective anymore, and it’s not a shot at him,” Espaillat said. “But that’s a reality. You know, since he’s had some issues in Congress, he’s lost clout.”

Rangel was found guilty of 11 House ethics charges in 2010, which forced him to relinquish his post as chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Some voted for Espaillat because he voted for same-sex marriage. However, in the final hours before the primary Monday, Rangel said he was confident of yet another win.

“Who in the heck can possibly say that I’m not the best qualified to bring back what is best for my community, for my city, my state, my country?” said Rangel.

Rangel beat Espaillat by about 1,000 votes two years ago in a race that included disputed election results and a lawsuit. If anything, this year’s campaign has been even nastier, including charges of racial politics in a redrawn district covering northern Manhattan and the Bronx that was historically black but has become majority Hispanic.

Rangel, who entered Congress in 1970 after beating longtime politician Adam Clayton Powell Jr., is best known for pushing for a low-income tax credit that fueled the nation’s largest affordable housing program and for creating an empowerment zone that changed the face of Harlem.

Polls closed at 9 p.m. A statewide hotline had been set up to help people with disabilities as well as New Yorkers who speak English as a second language.

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