Rep. Charlie Rangel survives primary challenge FILE- In this Sept. 22, 2011 file photo, Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-NY, smiles on Capitol Hill in Washington. Ethical clouds are hanging over at least a dozen lawmakers but in most cases they don't appear to be having much of an impact on their re-election prospects. Most center on complicated financial dealings rather than the headline-grabbing, sex-driven Internet scandals that have driven others from office over the past year and a half. File,AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite (AP) NEW YORK - New York Rep. Charles Rangel has won a primary in his bid for a 22nd term in Congress, defeating Adriano Espaillat and three other competitors despite a recent ethics scandal. The 82-year-old Democrat won his seat in the House of Representatives in 1970 and won re-election every two years since then. He rose to be chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee and was known to deliver for his constituents. With more than half the vote in, Rangel held a double-digit lead. This year was complicated by changing demographics in a redrawn district, strong challengers and lingering clouds from the ethics scandal ahead of Tuesday's primary. Because Democrats greatly outnumber Republicans in the city, Rangel is expected to win the general election in November.