Monserrate Girlfriend Campaigns for Him

Karla Giraldo appears in a video asking Queens, N.Y. voters to support her boyfriend, Hiram Monserrate, in a special senate election today. He was ousted from the seat last month over his misdemeanor conviction for assaulting Giraldo.

"Yes, we can!" says Giraldo in the video, which was also released in Spanish. "Vote Hiram."

In his effort to win back the seat, Monserrate aligned himself with antigay religious leaders. The former police officer was one of eight senate Democrats who voted against the marriage equality bill in December.

Gay and lesbian groups in New York are supporting the Democratic challenger, assemblyman Jose Peralta.