Meeks easily win Congressional primary

U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks cruised to victory in the Democratic congressional primary on June 26 and can seek re-election in November.

Meeks, in unofficial results, garnered 66 percent of the vote, easily defeating the three other candidates. Former New York City Councilman Allan Jennings got 13 percent, followed by Michael Scala with 11 percent and Joseph Marthone with 10 percent of the vote. All four are residents of Queens.

Out of nearly 13,000 votes cast in the primary, Meeks received about 8,500, more than double the total of the other three candidates combined.

“I thank the people of Nassau and Queens counties for supporting me in such overwhelming numbers,” he said.

Meeks is the current representative of the 6th Congressional District, but will be shifting to the 5th District next year due to redistricting mandated by the 2010 census. New York is losing two Congressional seats, including one on Long Island.

The new 5th District will encompass southeast Queens as well as parts of Nassau County including Elmont, Inwood and the western section of Valley Stream. Leading up to the November election, Meeks said he will continue to do his job serving his constituents in the 6th District, as well as meeting the residents of Nassau in the new district to hear their concerns, and learn how he can best serve them in the House of Representatives if re-elected. He also said he will be actively campaigning for President Barack Obama’s re-election.

Meeks has been in Congress for 13 years and is the senior member of the House Financial Services Committee. He will face off against Jennings in the November election, as Jennings will run on the Republican line.