Harvey Epstein wins NYC Council primary, defeating Anthony Weiner’s comeback bid

Advertisement

Advertise with us

NEW YORK (AP) — State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein has won the Democratic primary for a New York City Council seat in lower Manhattan, thwarting former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner’s long-shot attempt to return to the political stage.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!

As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.

Now, more than ever, we need your support.

Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.

Subscribe Now

or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.

Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on brandonsun.com
  • Read the Brandon Sun E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
Start now

No thanks

*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/07/2025 (268 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEW YORK (AP) — State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein has won the Democratic primary for a New York City Council seat in lower Manhattan, thwarting former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner’s long-shot attempt to return to the political stage.

Voting concluded June 24, but the winner wasn’t established until Tuesday when ranked choice voting results were released. Epstein now moves to the city’s general election in the fall.

Weiner had entered the race in the hopes of restarting his political career after it was derailed by sexting scandals. He was eventually sent to prison for sending sexually explicit messages to a 15-year-old girl. He finished far behind Epstein and some other candidates.

FILE - New York State Assemblyman Harvey Epstein campaigns in New York on Aug. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
FILE - New York State Assemblyman Harvey Epstein campaigns in New York on Aug. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

While Weiner’s candidacy brought a spotlight to the primary, Epstein also captured some unexpected attention.

Late last year, a “Saturday Night Live” sketch spoofed his name’s similarity to sex offenders Harvey Weinstein and Jeffery Epstein, with comedian John Mulaney playing the part of a candidate struggling to make clear to voters that he was not, in fact, one of the notorious sex criminals.

Harvey Epstein took the bit in stride, reposting it on his Instagram account.

The former lawyer and tenant organizer has been in the state legislature since 2018.

Weiner had been a strong Democratic voice in Congress before his political star plummeted in 2011 after he sent a lewd picture of himself to a college student on Twitter. He resigned from Congress, tried a comeback by running for New York City mayor, then got caught up in another sexting scandal. In 2017, prosecutors said he had engaged in illicit online contact with a high school student. Weiner pleaded guilty to transferring obscene material to a minor.

During the campaign, Weiner did not shy away from his past scandal, but told The Associated Press he struggled with how best to address what he had done when talking to voters.

Report Error Submit a Tip

World

LOAD MORE