Rep. Charles Rangel endorses Keith Wright as his House successor
Nine candidates are vying for Rep. Charles Rangel’s seat — a position he’s held for nearly a half-century — but only one stood beside him as he cast his vote in Harlem on Tuesday.
“For the first time in 46 years I couldn’t find my name!” Rangel said as he stepped out of his polling site at Public School 175 on W. 134th St.
“But I’m so glad I did find his name,” he added, nodding towards Assemblyman Keith Wright, whom Rangel endorsed as his successor.
New Yorkers in seven congressional districts in four boroughs — Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn — are voting in primaries to pick House nominees Tuesday. Polls close at 9 p.m.
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The race to replace Rangel is the most hotly contested of them all.
Rangel, 86, has held the seat for 23 terms. But after casting a vote for his longtime friend, Rangel sought to assure voters that Wright is no rookie either.
“He’s been in this business as a legislator for 23 years. And so hey, he’s in a great position,” Rangel said.
“He’s in a very, very fortunate position that he knows members of the Hispanic caucus, the Black caucus, the Progressive caucus and most importantly the next President of the United States.”
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A sanguine Rangel said he’ll miss the work but is anxious to see what Wright can do in his chair.
“Of course, I have to readjust because for the first time I got a new boss,” he joked, looking over at his wife Alma.
Despite his stepping down, Rangel said that this won’t be the end to his political career.
“Even though I’m leaving Congress, you can bet your life I’m not leaving politics,” he said
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He said he intends to devote “the rest of my life” to raising money for scholarships for City College to help students get an education.
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Rep. Charles Rangel endorses Keith Wright as his House successor
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