Another socialist victory: Julia Salazar wins NY Senate primary
Posted: Updated:(AP) - Julia Salazar, a democratic socialist, overcame intense scrutiny of her personal life and questions about her truthfulness Thursday to win the Democratic primary for a state Senate seat in Brooklyn.
The 27-year-old, first-time candidate defeated Sen. Martin Dilan in New York's 18th Senate District, joining the ranks of leftist insurgents nationwide who have knocked out mainstream Democrats.
MORE: #AskTheCandidates - Julia Salazar
There is no Republican candidate running in the district in the general election, virtually guaranteeing her win.
Dilan, 67, was a 16-year incumbent representing a district that has gone through major changes, with longtime residents being pushed out by rising rents and an influx of mostly white, wealthier newcomers.
Salazar built a grassroots campaign to unseat Dilan on the grounds that he hadn't done enough to help the poor or stop gentrification. She assailed him for taking campaign contributions from real estate interests.
Her campaign began attracting wide attention after fellow democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez scored a surprise win in June's congressional primary over U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley.
But in recent weeks, the race became a soap opera as reporters dug into her background.
Salazar faced criticism for saying she was an immigrant from Colombia who struggled financially growing up when she was actually born in Florida and had hundreds of thousands of dollars in a trust fund. She was scrutinized, too, over a political and religious conversion during her years at Columbia University, where she transformed from a Republican, anti-abortion Christian to a hard-left, Jewish Democrat.
One group revoked its endorsement after learning Salazar hadn't graduated from Columbia, as she said on its survey.
Salazar said she "inadvertently misrepresented" her family's history and chalked up some biographical discrepancies to mistakes by her staff.
Then, reporters revealed that in 2011, when she was in college, Salazar was accused of attempted bank fraud by the estranged wife of a famous neighbor in Florida, former New York Met Keith Hernandez.
Salazar was arrested but not prosecuted. She later filed a lawsuit accusing Hernandez's wife, Kai Hernandez, of trying to frame her because she erroneously believed she was having an affair with her husband. Kai Hernandez settled the lawsuit for $20,000.
Two days before the election, a conservative news site, The Daily Caller, told the Salazar campaign it was about to publish a story identifying her as a woman who had anonymously accused a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of sexual assault.
Saying she didn't want to be "outed" against her will, Salazar tweeted about the incident, saying the Netanyahu aide, David Keyes, had bullied her into an unwanted sex act.
Keyes called it a false allegation "made by someone who has proven to be repeatedly dishonest about her own life," but after additional women came forward with accusations, including a Wall Street Journal reporter, he took a leave of absence. At least four female Israeli lawmakers called upon Netanyahu to suspend Keyes.
Dilan was first elected in 2002 and was a member of the state Senate Democratic Conference's leadership. He spent 10 years in New York's City Council before being elected to the Senate.
Brooklyn PoliticsPoliticsMore>>
Sen. Bernie Sanders says he's running for president in 2020
Sen. Bernie Sanders says he's running for president in 2020
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders says he's running for president in 2020.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders says he's running for president in 2020.
Disgraced ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner released from prison
Disgraced ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner released from prison
Disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner has been released from federal prison in Massachusetts.Disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner has been released from federal prison in Massachusetts.Mayor: Amazon should have tried to win critics over
Mayor: Amazon should have tried to win critics over
Mayor Bill de Blasio says Amazon proved its critics right by canceling its planned New York City campus rather than trying to win the critics over.Mayor Bill de Blasio says Amazon proved its critics right by canceling its planned New York City campus rather than trying to win the critics over.Ocasio-Cortez urges community to work with her at Bronx inauguration
Ocasio-Cortez urges community to work with her at Bronx inauguration
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was ceremonially sworn in Saturday in the Bronx with support from other local leaders, and she urged the community to have a relationship with her office.Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was ceremonially sworn in Saturday in the Bronx with support from other local leaders, and she urged the community to have a relationship with her office.President Trump declares national emergency to get $8B for wall
President Trump declares national emergency to get $8B for wall
President Donald Trump declared a national emergency Friday to get more federal dollars for his long-promised wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, relying on a broad interpretation of his powers that was certain to trigger stiff legal challenges.President Donald Trump declared a national emergency Friday to get more federal dollars for his long-promised wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, relying on a broad interpretation of his powers that was certain to trigger stiff legal challenges.Mayor de Blasio hints 2020 White House run is still in the cards
Mayor de Blasio hints 2020 White House run is still in the cards
Mayor Bill de Blasio fueled speculation Thursday that a 2020 White House run could be in his future.Mayor Bill de Blasio fueled speculation Thursday that a 2020 White House run could be in his future.#N12BK: Midwinter break
#N12BK: Midwinter break
Midwinter recess is right about the corner and the city has plenty of events to keep children busy.Midwinter recess is right about the corner and the city has plenty of events to keep children busy.Cuomo raps Amazon critics amid report company's rethinking HQ in Long Island City
Cuomo raps Amazon critics amid report company's rethinking HQ in Long Island City
Gov. Andrew Cuomo warns that what he calls "political pandering" to critics of Amazon's proposed secondary headquarters could sink New York's biggest-ever economic development deal.Gov. Andrew Cuomo warns that what he calls "political pandering" to critics of Amazon's proposed secondary headquarters could sink New York's biggest-ever economic development deal.Trump calls for end of resistance politics in State of Union
Trump calls for end of resistance politics in State of Union
Facing a divided Congress for the first time, President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on Washington to reject "the politics of revenge, resistance and retribution."Facing a divided Congress for the first time, President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on Washington to reject "the politics of revenge, resistance and retribution."New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker launches 2020 bid
New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker launches 2020 bid
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker on Friday declared his bid for the presidency in 2020.U.S. Sen. Cory Booker on Friday declared his bid for the presidency in 2020.
Brooklyn Top StoriesTop StoriesMore>>
Caught on camera: Driver on sidewalk nearly misses hitting children
Caught on camera: Driver on sidewalk nearly misses hitting children
Police say a driver trying to avoid school buses in Borough Park, drove up onto the sidewalk, coming incredibly close to hitting several children.Police say a driver trying to avoid school buses in Borough Park, drove up onto the sidewalk, coming incredibly close to hitting several children.Pinterest blocks vaccine-related searches
Pinterest blocks vaccine-related searches
Here are the latest headlines from Cheddar:Here are the latest headlines from Cheddar:SU hoops coach Boeheim strikes, kills pedestrian on highway
SU hoops coach Boeheim strikes, kills pedestrian on highway
Police say Syracuse men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim struck and killed a 51-year-old man walking outside his vehicle on a highway.Police say Syracuse men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim struck and killed a 51-year-old man walking outside his vehicle on a highway.ACS launches new campaign to help professionals identify child trafficking
ACS launches new campaign to help professionals identify child trafficking
The Administration for Children’s Services has launched a new campaign to help professionals in the child welfare system identify signs of child trafficking in the city.The Administration for Children’s Services has launched a new campaign to help professionals in the child welfare system identify signs of child trafficking in the city.What's Going On: Feb. 21-24
What's Going On: Feb. 21-24
Here's a look at what's going on this weekend in the Bronx.Here's a look at what's going on this weekend in the Bronx.Trump calls on 'Empire' actor to apologize
Trump calls on 'Empire' actor to apologize
Chicago police say "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett has turned himself in.Chicago police say "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett has turned himself in.Country singer Miranda Lambert's NYPD husband is taken off patrol duty
Country singer Miranda Lambert's NYPD husband is taken off patrol duty
Country singer Miranda Lambert's NYPD husband is taken off patrol dutyPoll: National Sticky Bun Day
Poll: National Sticky Bun Day
Today is National Sticky Bun Day. Do you love the sweet breakfast treat?Today is National Sticky Bun Day. Do you love the sweet breakfast treat?Food Fight: Tell us where you like to eat!
Food Fight: Tell us where you like to eat!
News 12 Brooklyn is holding a battle of the best eats around! So tell us where you like to eat.News 12 Brooklyn is holding a battle of the best eats around! So tell us where you like to eat.Tech Check - Feb. 20, 2019
Tech Check - Feb. 20, 2019
Tech Check for Wednesday, February 20, 2019.