Kenneth Thompson is the first African-American to be elected Brooklyn District Attorney. Credit: Facebook
Kenneth Thompson defeated longtime incumbent Charles Hynes in the race for Brooklyn district attorney on Tuesday, becoming the first African-American to hold the seat.
Hynes had conceded to Thompson after the Democratic primary in September, but announced a few weeks later that he would run as the Republican candidate in the general election.
On Tuesday, Thompson beat Hynes with 75 percent of the vote, with 99 percent of precincts reporting.
The race between the two men grew heated when Hynes accused Thompson of allowing disgraced ex-Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Clarence Norman to steer his campaign.
Thompson accused Hynes of being passive on stop-and-frisk violations and being out of touch with Brooklyn communities.
Thompson is a former federal prosecutor and civil rights attorney who is best known for representing the maid who accused Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault.
Hynes became Brooklyn district attorney in 1990. This is the first time an elected city district attorney has been unseated since 1955.
