State Sen. Adriano Espaillat has defeated two challengers in the Democratic primary for the 31st Senate District.

According to unofficial returns, Espaillat had 50 percent of the vote, former New York City Councilmember Robert Jackson had 43 percent, and community advocate Luis Tejada had 7 percent of the vote. The district covers parts of northern Manhattan and the Bronx.

Espaillat was first elected to the state Senate in 2010, and served in the state Assembly prior to that. He recently ran unsuccessfully for a second time for the congressional seat currently held by Rep. Charlie Rangel, and lost in the June primary.

He had been endorsed in the state Senate primary by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as well as New York City Public Advocate Letitia James.

Jackson, who was in the City Council from 2001 until 2013, was endorsed by Rangel.

Tejada, a former professor who has also run for City Council, is the executive director of a community center in northern Manhattan.

There is no Republican candidate in the Nov. 4 general election.

(AP)