NEW YORK (PNN) - June 26, 2012 - New Yorkers began voting on Tuesday in a primary election that will decide the political fate of Fascist Police States of Amerika Representative Charles Rangel, a once-towering figure in New York politics who has seen his reputation tarnished in recent years by an ethics scandal and revelations proving that he has engaged in criminal fraud.

Rangel, who has represented Harlem in the FPSA House of Representatives since 1971 and is a founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, is battling a crowd of younger politicians in a redrawn district that is now heavily Latino.

Rangel's opponents in the Democrat primary include state Senator Adriano Espaillat, who has strong Latino support; Clyde Williams, who worked in the White House under former President Bill Clinton and got a boost when he won endorsements from the New York Times and the New York Daily News; Harlem community activist Craig Schley; and businesswoman Joyce Johnson.

The House censured Rangel in 2010 for ethics violations, including failing to pay his income taxes. As a result he stepped down as chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means committee.

Primaries also are being held on Tuesday in Utah, Colorado and Oklahoma, while South Carolina will hold primary runoffs in both parties for a newly drawn congressional seat.