The Dominican-American New York State Senator, Adriano Espaillat, who was born 27 September 1954 in Santiago de los Caballeros, is poised to become the first Dominican-born member of the U.S. House of Representatives. In its coverage on the vote during the Democratic primary to replace retiring 86-year old Representative Charles Rangel, the New York Times highlights that if the early results hold, this would be the first time since 1944 that an African-American will not represent the 13th Congressional District. The previous incumbents were Rangel and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Rangel, who has represented the District for nearly 50 years, having been elected 23 times, had endorsed Assemblyman Keith Wright who opposed Espaillat.
The 13th Congressional District covers upper Manhattan and a large area of the Bronx, including Harlem and East Harlem and areas with dense Dominican populations such Washington Heights, Inwood and Northwest Bronx.
With 98% of the vote counted, Espaillat had 37% of the vote compared to 34% for Wright. This was Espaillat’s third bid for Congress. He ran against Rangel in 2012 and 2014. Espaillat would become the first Dominican immigrant elected to the US Congress.
The New York Daily News pointed out that the vote results signal a shift in influence in the historically black Congressional district n also long the epicenter of black politics citywide n toward its newly surging Hispanic electorate.
The New York Times explains that if Espaillat wins the primary, he would be the most likely winner of the House of Representatives seat in the November 2016 general election because of the district’s overwhelmingly Democratic registration.
The New York Times highlights: “A victory by Mr. Espaillat would realize a long-sought goal of the so-called Dominican diaspora, which began to take root here in large numbers after the United States invaded the Caribbean nation in 1965. Many landed in Washington Heights, where the streets became outposts of the towns left behind.”
http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2016/06/28/democratic-primary-tuesday-in-nyc.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rep-charles-rangel-endorses-keith-wright-house-successor-article-1.2690968
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/espaillat-congress-best-choice-replace-rangel-article-1.2685752
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/29/nyregion/adriano-espaillat-charles-rangel-first-dominican-in-congress.html?_r=0
