In a significant political development, New York State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein has emerged victorious in the Democratic primary for a city council seat in lower Manhattan, effectively edging out former U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner, who sought to revive his political career following a series of scandals. The voting concluded on June 24, but the announcement of Epstein's victory was delayed until Tuesday when the results from the ranked choice voting were made public. With this win, Epstein is set to advance to the general election in the fall.

Weiner's candidacy had garnered attention as he attempted to make a comeback after his political career derailed due to a series of sexting scandals. His past offenses included inappropriate messages sent to a 15-year-old girl, resulting in a prison sentence. In this primary, he found himself trailing not only Epstein, but also several other candidates.

While Weiner's attempt to re-enter the political arena drew focus, Epstein also attracted unexpected media attention. Late last year, a sketch on Saturday Night Live humorously played on the similarities between his name and those of infamous sex offenders such as Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein. Comedian John Mulaney portrayed a candidate trying to convince voters he was not affiliated with the notorious sex criminals, and Epstein embraced the humor, sharing the sketch on his Instagram account.

The former attorney and tenant organizer has served in the state legislature since 2018. Weiner, once considered a prominent voice for Democrats in Congress, saw his reputation nosedive in 2011 when he sent explicit photos to a college student via Twitter. After resigning, he attempted a political resurgence by running for mayor of New York City, but was soon entangled in another scandal involving a minor. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to charges related to the transfer of obscene material to a minor.

Throughout the campaign, Weiner remained open about his past issues, expressing difficulty in appropriately addressing his scandals when interacting with voters. He shared with The Associated Press his internal struggle regarding how to present this aspect of his history while seeking public support.

As the political landscape in New York City continues to evolve, Harvey Epstein's primary victory represents a shift that may redefine future electoral dynamics in the region, particularly as he prepares for the general election later this year.