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Leroy Comrie Overwhelmingly Defeats Malcolm Smith in Primary

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | September 10, 2014 8:54am
 Leroy Comrie (left) decisively defeated state Sen. Malcolm Smith in the Democratic primary Tuesday.
Leroy Comrie (left) decisively defeated state Sen. Malcolm Smith in the Democratic primary Tuesday.
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DNAinfo.com

QUEENS — Former Jamaica City Councilman Leroy Comrie won the Democratic primary Tuesday for the seat in the 14th state Senate District that has been held by embattled Sen. Malcolm Smith since 2000.

Comrie, who was backed by numerous elected officials, including Mayor Bill de Blasio, as well as several labor unions, won with 69.4 percent of the vote.

Voters in the district, which includes Jamaica, Queens Village, St. Albans and Hollis, decisively expelled Smith, who is currently awaiting retrial on federal corruption charges.

Smith, who was arrested in April 2013 by the FBI and accused of attempting to rig last year’s mayoral election, captured 18.9 percent of the vote.

Queens lawyer Munir Avery came in third with 11.8 percent.

"I will continue to work ... on the issues that matter most to our residents including education reform, affordable housing, tax relief, healthcare, economic development, job creation, improving quality of life and public safety," Comrie wrote Wednesday on his Facebook page. "This win is a huge triumph and now I am looking forward to bringing everyone together so that we can continue to work for the betterment of our community."

Comrie will run unopposed in the general election on Nov. 4.