State Assemblyman Keith Wright vowed Saturday to make inequality in income and education the cornerstone of his platform as he launched a campaign to replace Rep. Charles Rangel.
Rangel, 84, is retiring from his US seat covering Harlem and the South Bronx next year after 45 years in office.
“It has always been my dream to go to Washington and to represent this community as your congressman,” said Wright during a speech at the Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church in The Bronx attended mainly by prominent clergy.
The Democratic Wright, 60, is a veteran of 12 terms in the Assembly and chair of its Housing Committee. He’ll likely square off in a primary with state Sen. Adriano Espaillat — who lost to Rangel in the last two primary elections — and Adam Clayton Powell IV.
Powell, who served in the City Council and Assembly, lost in 2010 to Rangel.
Rangel has yet to declare whom he will support.