Voters Head To The Polls For Congressional Primary Day In New York

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Primaries are being held Tuesday in 16 congressional districts throughout New York, including four with incumbents retiring at the end of the year.

Nine Democrats are running to replace Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel and five more on Long Island are competing for Rep. Steve Israel's seat.

Rangel, who is backing Assemblyman Keith Wright, has served 23 terms in District 13, which includes Upper Manhattan and part of the Bronx.

"This is the first time in 46 years I couldn't find my name," the 96-year-old Rangel told reporters after voting in P.S. 175. "I owe so much to this community."

State Sen. Adriano Espaillat, who failed to knock off Rangel twice before in Democratic primaries, is making his third run. The crowded field also includes Adam Clayton Powell, the son of the charismatic congressman Rangel defeated in a primary 46 years ago: Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

Some voters said they're sad to see Rangel go, while others say it's time for change.

"We're going to miss him, he's a great man," one voter told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell.

"It's time to change the group of people that have been representing this district for a long time," another voter said.

When asked what voters in this district are looking for in a representative, many residents in Harlem had the same answer, CBS2's Meg Baker reported.

"We need everything for this neighborhood," one resident said.

"A lot of stuff," another resident said.

"We need strong representation, someone that will speak for the people," voter Jeff Hamer said.

"Housing, jobs, community involvement," resident Rodney Peartree said.

On Long Island, former Nassau County executive Thomas Suozzi is seeking a political comeback with his run for Israel's seat. He was defeated in his re-election bid for the county post in 2009, several years after an unsuccessful run for governor. The other candidates are Jon Kaiman, Steve Stern, Anna Kaplan and Jonathan Clarke.

Israel is stepping down after 15 years. The winner of the contest will take on Republican State Sen. Jack M. Martins in the fall.

Primary contests also are being held Tuesday in the districts of the two outgoing upstate Republicans: Hudson Valley Rep. Chris Gibson and central New York Rep. Richard Hanna.

Gibson's retirement from his eastern New York seat has led to Democratic and Republican primary races.

Democrat Zephyr Teachout, who mounted a surprisingly strong primary challenge to Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2014 by promoting progressive issues, is running against farmer Will Yandik.

Teachout, a Fordham University law professor, is ahead in the polls and has support from deep-pocketed donors like George Soros. Yandik has played up his local roots.

On the Republican side, former state Assemblyman and gubernatorial candidate John Faso faces first-time candidate Andrew Heaney.

In a bare-knuckled race, Heaney has played up Faso's past as a political insider and lobbyist while Faso has spotlighted Heaney's New York City roots and a 2007 campaign contribution to Barack Obama.

Polls show Faso with a commanding lead.

There are no Republican primaries in New York City this round, CBS2's Meg Baker reported.

Twelve of of the city's 13 districts are currently represented by Democrats, with the exception of District 11, which includes Staten Island and part of Brooklyn and is represented by Rep. Daniel Donovan, who is not facing a primary challenge.

In central New York, Hanna's retirement has set up a three-way GOP primary race among Syracuse-area businessman Steve Wells, Utica-area Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney and Binghamton-area history teacher George Phillips.

There's also a hard-fought Democratic primary on the eastern end of Long Island for the opportunity to take on Republican first-term Rep. Lee Zeldin in November.

Former Southampton town supervisor Anna Throne-Holst and venture capitalist David Calone had raised $3 million combined by this month.

In the Syracuse area, three Democrats are fighting for the chance to take on Republican first-term Rep. John Katko. Colleen Deacon, a former aide to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, faces Eric Kingson, a social work professor at Syracuse University and Steve Williams, an attorney and Navy veteran.

In New York City, the Board of Elections was harshly criticized for how it handled April's presidential primary, 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reported.

Among the issues then included thousands of names missing from voter rolls in Brooklyn, long lines and broken voting machines.

On Tuesday, the City Council has 20 monitors in place at polling places across the five boroughs.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. in New York City, Erie, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Orange, Rockland and Putnam counties. In all other counties, polls open at noon.

All polling stations will close at 9 p.m.

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