Political novice and tea party ally Carl Paladino has beaten the Republican designee in the race for the party's nomination for New York governor.
Paladino rode a wave of voter anger on his way to defeating former Congressman Rick Lazio. It's another blow to the GOP in a heavily Democratic state.
Paladino, a millionaire Buffalo developer, will now take on the popular and well-financed Democratic attorney general, Andrew Cuomo, in November.
Paladino lost to Lazio at the state GOP convention but then petitioned his way to the primary by securing 30,000 Republican signatures statewide.
Also in New York, embattled Rep. Charles Rangel easily fended off five challengers in the Democratic primary, including Adam Clayton Powell IV, a New York assemblyman and son of the legendary Harlem figure Rangel defeated in 1970.
With 59 precincts reporting, Rangel had captured over 50 percent of the vote, while Powell had about 25 percent.
The 80-year-old Rangel has been tainted by ethics charges and is likely to face trial in the House in November. He has vigorously fought back and has urged his constituents to stand with him.
