Rep. Jerrold Nadler defeats Rep. Carolyn Maloney in blockbuster NY-12 congressional primary

Rep. Jerrold Nadler trounced Rep. Carolyn Maloney in their blockbuster Manhattan primary Tuesday, holding on to the district he has represented for three decades and ousting a fellow Democratic congressional titan after an unusually contentious campaign.

With nearly all ballots tallied, Nadler held about 56% of the vote total compared to the 24% clinched by Maloney, according to state Board of Elections returns from the 12th Congressional District primary. Insurgent candidate Suraj Patel trailed them with about 19%.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler speaks during his election night victory party in the Democratic primary election, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, in New York. (John Minchillo/AP)

The Associated Press called the race for Nadler less than 40 minutes after polls closed at 9 p.m. Shortly thereafter, Nadler addressed dozens of cheering supporters at a restaurant on his native Upper West Side.

He told the crowd he was often asked on the campaign trail why he opted to run against Maloney instead of moving to “another part of the city,” an apparent reference to the 10th District he used to represent before this year’s chaotic congressional redistricting process.

“Because this place is my home,” he said. “I have lived here my entire adult life.”

In heavily Democratic Manhattan, Nadler’s primary victory provides him with a glide path to re-election in November.