Sen. Pedro Espada Vows To Remain In State Democratic Party

Pedro Espada Junior may be persona non grata with the Democratic establishment. But in the Bronx, he has his supporters -- at least 10,000 of them, judging by the number of signatures he says has been collected to run for re-election.

"Ten thousand Democrats, and more to come, they have said: You will not disenroll us. You will not disenfranchise us. We want Pedro on the ballot! He is our Democrat! He is our senator!" Espada Jr. said.

With Monday’s event part press conference, part campaign rally, Espada Jr. seemed to be thumbing his nose at the state Democratic party, which has formally asked its Bronx chapter to cancel his party enrollment, arguing he is out of step with Democratic principles.

Espada Jr. called the move un-American and suggested the attacks on him are discriminatory. He also showed up with a new granddaughter, and attacked state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo during remarks that veered all over the map.

"If you look brown, and you’re an immigrant, you’re not supposed to have power," Espada Jr. said. "I am Christian, I am Catholic, I am God-fearing, and I have God on my side."