This from Liz Benjamin’s State of Politics blog on Friday afternoon: Bronx State Senator Gustavo Rivera (33rd District) has what appears to be his first challenger in Manny Tavarez, who “is not a well-known individual,” according to Benjamin. Tavarez worked on District Leader and Bronx Democratic Party loyalist Hector Ramirez’s failed bid to unseat Assemblyman Nelson Castro two years ago.

Bronx Democratic Party Chairman Carl Heastie, who backed Ramirez two years ago and was late in committing support to Rivera when he took on Pedro Espada during that same primary season, says he is firmly in Rivera’s corner this time around.

Last week, Rivera became the first Bronx elected official to officially announce his support for anyone in the newly-drawn Congressional district represented by longtime incumbent Charles Rangel. Rivera is backing fellow state senator Adriano Espaillat, who represents upper Manhattan and  a chunk of Riverdale, and is one of three Democrats challenging Rangel.

The Times wrote about the race today, saying Espaillat’s fighting an uphill battle despite the fact that the district is now 55 percent Hispanic. (The Dominican-born Espaillat is the only Latino candidate in the race.) In the article, there’s a juicy little tidbit about discussions involving Espaillat, Heastie, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and Jeanine Johnson, general counsel for Keith Wright, head of the Manhattan Democrats. It says Heastie and Johnson had “a pointed exchange” over how much say Heastie would have in choosing Rangel’s successor (should he win). Diaz and Espaillat also had an exchange during which Diaz “confronted” Espaillat over his backing of a redistricting plan that was primarily Dominican. The article quotes Espaillat, according to two people at the meeting, saying, “It’s time for us to have what’s due to us.” Espaillat, however, disputes the account.

Let the races begin.