Carl Paladino has won the Republican nomination for New York governor against former Rep. Rick Lazio, the Associated Press projects.
With 42% of precincts reporting, Paladino leads Lazio 67%-33%.
Paladino has been gaining momentum in the polls leading up to the primary, and becomes the latest Tea Party-backed candidate to upset a more establishment Republican pick. He will go on to face Democratic nominee Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in the general election. Cuomo is heavily favored.
Paladino has generated some controversy since announcing his candidacy. He sent out a series of racist emails, suggested welfare recipients should be housed in prisons, and became quite outspoken in his opposition to the Park51 Islamic center near Ground Zero.
Lazio also focused much of his resources on opposing Park51, but it was not enough to overcome Paladino's personal fortune and appeal to populist anger. Political novice and tea party ally Carl Paladino has beaten the Republican designee in the race for the party's nomination for New York governor.
Paladino rode a wave of voter anger on his way to defeating former Congressman Rick Lazio. It's another blow to the GOP in a heavily Democratic state.
Paladino, a millionaire Buffalo developer, will now take on the popular and well-financed Democratic attorney general, Andrew Cuomo, in November.
Paladino lost to Lazio at the state GOP convention but then petitioned his way to the primary by securing 30,000 Republican signatures statewide.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
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