The victories of Dominican-American women in Democratic primaries for state Senate and Assembly seats representing upper Manhattan and part of the Bronx marked a shift in a local political landscape now dominated by Adriano Espaillat, who is expected to be elected to Congress in November.
Espaillat endorsed fellow Dominicans Marisol Alcantara, who won the primary in the 31st Senate District, and Carmen De La Rosa, who took the contest in the 72nd Assembly District. The newcomers are expected to cruise to victory on Election Day, along with Espaillat, who is poised to replace the retiring Charles Rangel in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Alcantra would succeed Espaillat in the Senate. While she would be the only Latina in state’s upper house, detractors – including primary opponent Robert Jackson – slammed her for promising to join the Senate Independent Democratic Conference, a group of lawmakers that often sides with Senate Republicans.
