Rangel's history helped secure primary win: Expert

Rep. Charles Rangel's decades of work helped trump his troubles in Washington in his victory for a 22nd term, a political expert says.

The "Harlem Lion" defeated state Senator Adriano Espaillat and three other candidates in Tuesday's Democratic Primary with 45% of the vote, according to Reuters. There are no registered Republicans running in the race.

Rangel, 82, had faced tough competition from Espaillat, not only due to his district being redrawn to include more parts of the South Bronx, but also because this was the first time he ran for re-election since being censured by the House in for violating ethics rules.

In the end, the violations didn't matter to voters who have supported him for 42 years, according to Doug Muzzio, professor of public affairs at Baruch College.

"The bottom line is Charlie Rangel is an icon," he said.

Muzzio added that endorsements from the likes of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. Andrew Cuomo helped to put Rangel in a better spotlight.

Muzzio added that he believes this Rangel's last election as he does not see New York's longest serving House member working in Washington with his diminished political power and health.

"This is his last hurrah," Muzzio said.