Yusef Salaam … has won a Democratic primary for a seat on the New York City Council, all but assuring him of eventual victory.

His outsider campaign prevailed over two political veterans — New York Assembly members Inez Dickens, 73, and Al Taylor, 65 … Democratic socialist Kristin Richardson Jordan, the incumbent council member, dropped out of the race in May …

While all three candidates focused on promoting affordable housing, controlling gentrification and easing poverty in Harlem, Salaam capitalized on his celebrity …

Salaam moved to Georgia shortly after he was released [in 2002] and became an activist, a motivational speaker, an author and a poet. He returned only in December to launch his campaign.