Middletown Mayor Joe Destefano celebrated alongside a mariachi band at his family's restaurant Tuesday evening following a landslide victory in the Democratic primary election for mayor.

DeStefano won more than 85% of the vote, declaring victory over challenger Joel Sierra about an hour after polls closed.

DeStefano mentioned during his victory speech and in his interview with News 12 how important the growing Hispanic immigrant population is to his campaign and his vision for the city.

He said afterward that he has received criticism and even threats for his defense of immigrants and the city's policy that its police department does not help Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents execute administrative warrants in the city.

"We look at people as people," DeStefano told News 12 after declaring victory. "We want people to feel comfortable living here. Cities are built on immigration and immigrants."

DeStefano is expected to win the November election affording him a fifth consecutive four-year term.

DeStefano is a Middletown native, a Mercy University alumnus and held several other government and political positions prior to his first stint as mayor in 1993.

When asked whether he plans to run for reelection in 2029 he said "I just go one year at a time."