Newcomers, Veteran Pols Declare Victory In New York Primaries

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Primary night featured a number of intriguing races in New York and ended with some new faces entering the political fold and other veterans declaring they still have what it takes to do the job.

PRIMARY RESULTS: Click Here For A Full List

Rangel Vs. Espaillat

New York Rep. Charles Rangel won his primary in his bid for a 22nd term in Congress, defeating state Sen. Adriano Espaillat despite a House ethics scandal.

"This is not the first time my community has rallied behind me when some of the most severe charges have been made against me in the past," Rangel said.

Rangel will be highly favored to win the general election in November.

Jeffries Vs. Barron

Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries handily beat out City Councilman Charles Barron in the 8th Congressional District. Jeffries got 72 percent of the vote to Barron's 28 percent with 94 percent of the vote counted Tuesday night.

"You know the political pundits said that this was going to be a close race, but that was before the people had spoken," Jeffries said.

GOP Battle To Face Gillibrand

Attorney Wendy Long won a three-way Republican primary to take on Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in this fall's race for the U.S. Senate.

Long beat Nassau County comptroller George Maragos and Rep. Bob Turner. Long now faces Democrat Gillibrand, a three-year incumbent who already has about $10 million in campaign cash, according to the Associated Press.

Ackerman's Seat

In the 6th Congressional district in Queens, Assembly Member Grace Meng has defeated Rory Lancman for retiring Congressman Gary Ackerman's seat. Meng could become the first Asian-American to represent New York in Congress.

"At the start of our campaign...it was rough-going for a while...we stayed on message and we stayed renlentlessly positive," Meng said.