"The chairman has won. The chairman has won," Congressman Gregory Meeks said as he proclaimed Representative Charles Rangel the winner of the state's 13th Congressional District.

Rangel can add another two years to his 43-year tenure as a member in the U.S. House of Representatives. It was his second consecutive electoral victory against challenger and Democratic State Senator Adriano Espaillat, also defeated by Rangel in the 2012 primary election. In the 2014 primary, Rangel won with 47.44 percent of the vote (22,674 votes) to Espaillat's 43.62 percent (20,846 votes), with 99 percent of precincts reported.

Rangel and Espaillat weren't alone on the 13th Congressional District's ballot; the politicians competed against First Corinthian Baptist Church Rev. Michael Walrond Jr. and Bronx activist Yolanda Garcia. Walrond and Garcia received 7.89 percent (3,750 votes) and 1.06 percent (505 votes), respectively.

Polls closed at 9 p.m. Tuesday night, and initial voting results showed Espaillat leading. But by 10 p.m., the tide had turned in Rangel's favor.

With the election results too close to call, Rangel spoke to his constituents from a Harlem auditorium but refrained from announcing an immediate victory.

"I am certain that my wife and I have the same anticipation about this race as all of you. We don't need a whole lot of numbers to tell you how good we feel, how proud we feel," Rangel said.

According to Rangel, the people of the 13th Congressional District didn't vote for a candidate for the "particular place they lived in." He denied that there had been any political discourse in the race based on diversity issues, likely a reference to strong support for Espaillat in the Inwood and Washington Heights neighborhoods in Manhattan, as well as the Dominican community throughout the district. Had Espaillat won, he would have been almost guaranteed to be the first Dominican-American member of Congress.

Rangel added that he is someone "Who can walk into the national arena with the most friends, supporters" in Washington D.C.

"I am convinced that there's nobody here that regrets anything that we have done," he said, later adding, "Our community in the community of the 13th Congressional District has won. The people has won."

Espaillat spoke from Inwood at 11:32 p.m. Tuesday night to thank elected officials, his family and supporters for the past seven months of "calling for change in Washington." The state senator did not concede the race, saying it was "too close to call" and stating vote tallies had yet to be announced from areas including the Bronx's Bedford Park and Manhattan's Inwood, Hamilton Heights and Washington Heights neighborhoods.

"Every vote must be counted," he added, which was followed by chants of "Si Se Puede" (Yes We Can).

"This is a historic race and one we should be proud of," Espaillat said, while Rangel continued speaking to his supporters in Harlem.

"This was your victory. This is your congressman. You can rest assured that all I will be doing is thinking about you and bringing those resources home," Rangel told the crowd.

Walrond Jr.'s Campaign Manager Linara Davidson said, "Because of Mike Walrond's candidacy, New York's 13th Congressional District had the opportunity to hear a candidate who spoke on the issues affecting this community in real substantive ways. We are extremely proud of the campaign we have organized, and Mike's visionary leadership will continue to impact our community through his work at First Corinthian Baptist Church. Congratulations to Congressman Rangel on his re-election."

While voters cast their ballot in several locations with the 13th Congressional District. West Harlem was an active site for politics.

The New York City Independence Party picketed at two locations in the district, one in the Bronx and another in Harlem. In the 13th Congressional District, 72,000 voters are registered as independent but are excluded from voting in primary elections. Only registered Democrats or Republicans may vote in primaries for their party.

One protestor was Digna Florencio, an independent voter from Queens. She and fellow protesters conducted surveys, which included questions such as "Did you know than independent voters — voters not affiliated with either party — cannot vote in this primary election even though taxpayer money pays for them" and "Do you think all voters should be able to participate in all stages of the elections?"

"Both Democrats and the Republicans have disappointed me and I really want to make a change in that I want everybody to vote," said Florencio. "It's not fair only those two dominant parties can vote. I want everybody to vote and everybody to be included."

"There are cynical people out there that feel that no matter what we do, it's just not going to do anything to help out this country," Florencio said of community reactions to the protests.

Supporters of Espaillat, Rangel, and Walrond Jr. passed out information near P.S. 175 before polls closed and encouraged residents to vote.

Espaillat supporter Juan Lora helped distribute fliers to bystanders. "Adriano Espaillat is a new face, a fresh face in this position," Lora said in Spanish. "We need someone who is not relaxed in the political system, especially in Washington. Congressman Rangel had too much time in office. I think Espaillat is a valid candidate and has new ideas and needs the opportunity to show he's for the people."

Harlem resident Rachel Verdell voted for Walrond Jr. "I followed [Walrond] for a number of years and I just feel like he really has a strong issue and has a strong heart for the people in terms of items that matter a lot, like affordable housing, criminal justice reform, minimum wage," she said.

"Rangel's been here a while, that's fine, but I don't think he's done a lot with the position that he's had," Verdell added. "In terms of [Walrond], he really has a good handle on what the people need and what they want."

Uptown Democratic Club Founder William Allen voted for Rangel because "he's done the work."

"Most of the progressive legislation that came out of Congress came through him. For the last couple of decades, he's really been consistent when it comes to public policy. I think a lot of people don't know his record, and I think that's where people get lost, but this guy has really done a lot for us, particularly poor Americans and immigrants more so than all those other folks running," Allen said.

Board of Elections Coordinator Karen Roberts said, "[Rangel] is the greatest man the city has ever seen. He has done a lot for the community and I look up to his as a mentor."

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