Disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner’s attempt at a political comeback was crushed Tuesday night as he lost his New York City Council race to a candidate with an ironically unfortunate name. The convicted sex offender finished a distant fourth in the Democratic primary for the 2nd District seat, capturing just 10.3% of the vote while Harvey Epstein cruised to victory with 39%.

Weiner’s humiliating defeat marks another chapter in his scandal-plagued career that has included multiple sexting controversies, prison time, and his registration as a sex offender. His loss to a candidate sharing names with infamous sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein adds a layer of poetic justice to a race that many conservatives saw as the epitome of Democratic hypocrisy. Despite positioning himself as a political centrist and trying to focus on practical city issues, voters decisively rejected Weiner’s bid for redemption, sending a clear message that some political careers cannot and should not be resurrected.

Weiner’s Scandalous Past Haunts His Comeback

Anthony Weiner’s political career initially ended in disgrace back in 2011 when he resigned from Congress after sending explicit photos to women on Twitter. The scandal erupted when Weiner accidentally posted a lewd image publicly instead of sending it privately, initially claiming his account had been hacked before eventually admitting the truth.

Rather than learning his lesson, Weiner continued his inappropriate behavior while attempting a political comeback during the 2013 New York City mayoral race. His campaign imploded when it was revealed he had continued sexting under the pseudonym “Carlos Danger,” sending explicit messages to women even after his resignation from Congress.

The final nail in Weiner’s political coffin came in 2016 when he was caught sending explicit messages to a 15-year-old girl. This criminal behavior led to a 21-month prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to transferring obscene material to a minor, forcing him to register as a sex offender upon his release in 2019.

Weiner’s 2016 scandal had far-reaching consequences beyond his personal disgrace. When FBI agents seized his laptop during their investigation, they discovered emails related to Hillary Clinton’s private server investigation because of Weiner’s marriage to Clinton aide Huma Abedin.

The Ironically Named Victor

In what can only be described as a twist of political fate, Weiner was defeated by Harvey Epstein, whose name combines those of two notorious figures – convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The irony was not lost on voters or political observers across the country.

Harvey Epstein, who previously served in the New York State Assembly, has no connection to either infamous namesake but now finds himself linked to Weiner in this bizarrely fitting electoral outcome. Epstein ran a campaign focused on affordable housing and tenant rights, issues that resonated with voters in Manhattan’s East Village and Lower East Side.

praying this is the last Anthony Weiner mailer that vaguely references the fact that he served time in prison after sexting a 15 year old girl pic.twitter.com/uNNOVKWZYG

— allison (@allisongeroi) June 24, 2025

Throughout the campaign, Weiner attempted to address his past head-on, telling voters: “Since I am asking you for your vote again, I want to address the elephant in the room … I accepted responsibility, I did my time (literally) and paid my debt to society in full.”

Weiner’s campaign strategy involved positioning himself as a centrist alternative in an increasingly progressive field. He advocated for increasing police presence in high-crime areas while also supporting single-payer healthcare for New York City, trying to appeal to both moderate and liberal Democratic voters.

The Democrat Double Standard

Weiner’s attempt at political resurrection highlights what many conservatives see as a troubling pattern of male Democratic politicians being given multiple chances after serious scandals. His decision to run came at a time when the Democratic Party claims to champion women’s rights and the #MeToo movement, creating an uncomfortable contradiction for many liberal voters.

The former congressman’s connections to the Clinton political machine further complicated his comeback attempt. His now-estranged wife Huma Abedin was one of Hillary Clinton’s closest aides, and the investigation into Weiner’s laptop in October 2016 led then-FBI Director James Comey to reopen the Clinton email investigation just days before the presidential election.

Anthony Weiner is, rightfully, getting his ass handed to him

Say hello to Harvey Epstein! pic.twitter.com/kqUZtGUTQY

— Polling USA (@USA_Polling) June 25, 2025

“I was dealing with what I now understand to be addiction,” Weiner claimed during his campaign, attempting to frame his repeated inappropriate behavior as a mental health issue rather than a character flaw. This explanation failed to sway voters who seemed unwilling to trust a man with his history of deception and criminal behavior.

Fellow candidate Andrea Gordillo voiced the sentiments of many when she criticized Weiner’s run, suggesting that his candidacy was more about personal redemption than public service. “In a time when our city and communities have never been more in need, I find it troubling that political comebacks are taking center stage,” Gordillo stated.

Political Consequences Beyond New York

The rejection of Weiner by New York City voters sends a strong message about the limits of political rehabilitation in the modern era. Despite his attempts to rebrand himself through radio hosting and business ventures after his release from prison, voters clearly deemed his transgressions too severe to warrant another chance at public office.

Weiner’s defeat comes at a time when Democrats nationwide are struggling with messaging around crime and personal accountability. While the party often advocates for second chances and rehabilitation for offenders, Weiner’s case demonstrates that some crimes – particularly those involving minors – remain beyond the pale even for liberal New York City voters.

The primary election that sealed Weiner’s political fate coincided with progressive victories elsewhere in the city, including the mayoral bid of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani. This suggests that voters weren’t rejecting Weiner based on policy positions but rather on personal character and conduct.

For Republicans watching from across the country, Weiner’s failed comeback represents a rare moment of accountability in Democratic politics. While figures like Virginia Governor Ralph Northam survived blackface scandals and President Biden weathered accusations of inappropriate touching, Weiner’s criminal conviction and status as a registered sex offender proved too much for even the forgiving Democratic electorate of Manhattan.

As Weiner contemplates his future after this decisive rejection, the message from voters seems clear – some political careers cannot and should not be rehabilitated. The former rising star of the Democratic Party, once considered a potential future mayor or senator, now faces the reality that his public life may truly be over, defeated not just by his own actions but by a man whose very name serves as a reminder of sexual misconduct.

Sources:

Anthony Weiner Is Attempting Another Political Comeback. Yes, Really.

Anthony Weiner Humiliated, Loses Comeback Race to Man with Same Name as Infamous Pedophile, Rapist