UPTOWN — State Sen. Adriano Espaillat announced on Wednesday his candidacy for the 13th congressional district in a bid to replace longtime Rep. Charles Rangel.
This is the third time Espaillat will vie for the congressional seat after losing to Rangel by narrow margins in 2012 and 2014. Rangel announced his retirement during his last re-election, with plans to close out his tenure along with President Obama at the end of 2016.
The only other top contender for the seat is Uptown Assemblyman Guillermo Linares, a fellow Dominican, who has yet to officially announce his candidacy.
"Yesterday, I confirmed that I have a scheduled fundraiser," Linares told DNAinfo, signaling he's in the process of launching a campaign.
This would mark the first time Linares would run for the congressional seat, but not his first time taking on against Espaillat.
Espaillat defeated Linares during the state Senate race in 2012, and Linares is currently occupying Espaillat’s old position as assemblyman for District 72, representing Washington Heights, Inwood and Marble Hill.
Other politicians in the running for the congressional seat include Assemblyman Keith Wright, former presidential advisor Suzan Cook, Mike Gallagher, state Sen. Bill Perkins, and former Assemblyman and former Councilman Adam Clayton Powell.
