The hotly contested congressional Democratic primary pitting state Sen. Adriano Espaillat against incumbent Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel is causing an ugly rift among the city’s minority legislators serving in Albany, the Post has learned.
Harlem Assemblyman Keith Wright accused Brooklyn Assemblyman Karim Camara — this year’s chairman of the New York State Legislature’s Black, Hispanic and Asian Caucus — of personal betrayal for endorsing Espaillat.
Wright, who is chairman of the Manhattan Democratic Party and co-chair of the state party, said he was blind-sided by Camara’s endorsement of Espaillat.
“I talked to Karim and he said he wasn’t endorsing anyone. Then I turn around to find out he endorsed Espaillat,” Wright fumed.
Wright said it was inappropriate for Camara, as chairman of the minority caucus, to take sides in the primary. He said the endorsement gave the mistaken “perception” that the minority caucus — originally founded by Rangel when he was a state assemblyman — was backing Espaillat over the veteran congressman.
“There are a number of people who are upset. When your chairman there’s an added responsibility. When I was chairman of the caucus, I didn’t endorse any candidate,” Wright said.
“And I don’t understand why someone in Brooklyn would get involved in a Manhattan congressional primary,” added Wright.
Wright is one of Rangel’s closest allies.
Political sources told The Post has Wright had even drafted a letter calling for Camara’s resignation as chairman of the minority caucus.
“A letter has not been delivered to Mr. Camara,” Wright said.
But he said he “looked forward to having a discussion” with other caucus members about Camara’s endorsement.
Camara, like Wright, is black. Rangel is half-black and half Puerto Rican, though he has long identified as African-American. Espaillat is a Dominican native.
Camara, who also is a church minister, declined requests for comment.
“Camara is telling legislators to pray for him,” a source said of the friction.
Espaillat formerly served as chairman of the Legislature’s Black and Hispanic caucus, as has Wright.
In the Espaillat campaign’s March 10 press release announcing Camara’s endorsement, it said that that Camara praised Espaillat for being a unifying force who kept the NYS Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian intact.
“At a time when the progressive agenda was under siege in Albany, and petty differences threatened to divide Black and Latino lawmakers along ethnic lines, Adriano Espaillat displayed exactly the kind of leadership we needed,” Camara said. “In this difficult moment, Adriano kept us unified and focused on our shared needs.”
“Now, Adriano is seeking to ensure the seat originally created to give the African and Caribbean diaspora representation in Washington remains at the forefront of fighting poverty, speaking truth to power, and serving as a national model of cooperation between communities of color nation-wide. I am proud to endorse his campaign to serve to serve as this historic district’s next member of Congress.”
Meanwhile Wright has gotten involved in out-of-county primaries, including when he was minority caucus chairman. He supported Larry Seabrook’s insurgent campaign against sitting Bronx Congressman Eliot Engel in 2009.