State Rep. Hakeem Jeffries has won the Democratic primary in New York’s 8th Congressional District to succeed retiring Rep. Ed Towns, defeating controversial City Councilman Charles Barron.
With 47 percent of precincts reporting, Jeffries has 74 percent of the votes, compared with 26 percent for Barron.
Jeffries gained the support of most labor groups and the Democratic establishment, while Barron had the endorsement of major city public employee unions and the retiring Ed Towns — despite Barron having challenged Towns in a close primary back in 2006.
Barron has been heavily criticized for his comments on foreign policy, including both heavy opposition to Israel as well as strong support for such strongmen as the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
