Rep. Jerry Nadler decisively defeated Rep. Carolyn Maloney in a New York Democratic primary that the two long-serving liberal lawmakers had been battling to win.
The two legislators ended up running against each other due to redistricting.
“Well New York…we did it! I’m so deeply grateful for your continued support and trust—I promise to keep on fighting for New Yorkers in Congress. Onwards!” Nadler tweeted on Tuesday night.
Republican Michael Zumbluskas will be competing against Nadler during the general election later this year.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York had endorsed Nadler earlier this month.
“New York has a lot of outstanding leaders but few of them lead with the courage, conviction, and brilliant legislative effectiveness of my friend, Jerry Nadler. Having worked alongside Jerry for years, I’ve watched as time after time, Jerry —a critical partner of mine in the House — was right on the issues years before so many others,” Schumer said in a statement.
The New York Times reported that Schumer spokesperson Angelo Roefaro noted that the senator had “deep respect for Carolyn Maloney’s significant accomplishments in Congress.”
Maloney’s loss means that the congresswoman will depart from Congress at the end of her current term after having served 30 years in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Maloney has been openly supportive of Drag Queen Story Hour, which involves cross dressers reading books to children.
“I had the honor of assisting with a Drag Queen Story Hour in New York in April,” Maloney tweeted in June. In April, the congresswoman declared in a tweet that because of the New York Public Library “and programs like Draq Queen story hour, NYC’s next generation are getting a well rounded education about LGBTQ+ issues and gender identity.”