Former Rep. Anthony Weiner Loses NYC Council Primary Defeat

Anthony Weiner, the disgraced former congressman who served prison time for sexting a minor, attempted a political comeback by running for a New York City Council seat in Manhattan's 2nd District but faced a decisive defeat. As of the latest counts, Weiner was trailing in fourth place with just over 10% of the vote, far behind state Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, who led with nearly 40%. Despite Weiner's efforts to address his past and emphasize accountability, his bid failed amid continued public skepticism and competition from candidates like Sarah Batchu and Andrea Gordillo. The race was contested in a politically active district encompassing the East Village and Lower East Side, with ranked-choice voting delaying final results. Weiner's political downfall began with multiple sexting scandals culminating in a conviction and prison sentence, which effectively ended his previous runs, including a failed 2013 mayoral campaign. Meanwhile, other New York political figures such as Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams are also embroiled in controversies, highlighting a broader climate of political scrutiny in the city.