Monserrate Loses Bid to Win Back Seat

Former New York state senator Hiram Monserrate lost the special election Tuesday in Queens, suffering a resounding defeat in his bid to regain the seat he lost last month after colleagues expelled him for a conviction of misdemeanor assault against his girlfriend.

According to the New York Daily News, "Popular Assemblyman Jose Peralta crushed Monserrate with 65% of the vote to his rival's 27%, according to the unofficial final tally in the special election."

Monserrate was one of eight senate Democrats who voted against the marriage equality bill in December. In the weeks leading up to the special election, he claimed support from religious leaders opposed to gay rights. Yesterday, Karla Giraldo, the girlfriend he was convicted of assaulting, released a video in support of him.