He is a Latino pioneer who has fought for civil rights in places like The Bronx, South Africa and his native Puerto Rico, where he was arrested for protesting the U.S. Navy bombings on the island of Vieques.

And at 85, Bronx assemblyman José Rivera is saying goodbye.

“José Rivera will be part of the history that will be written about the Puerto Rican community and the larger Latino community, and José will be a central figure to that,” said Roberto Ramírez, a former Bronx assemblyman.

Rivera was the only city incumbent who seemed to have lost his primary on Tuesday. He was first elected to the State Assembly in 1982, and remained there except for a 13-year stint in the City Council.

Over the years, he had successfully fended off several primary challenges.

“I think there had been some conversations about asking him to retire and he refused. I do think, however, it’s sad because of the legacy that José Rivera has brought to the table,” said Camille Rivera, a Democratic consultant.

Unofficial results from the Board of Elections show political operative George Alvarez having a significant lead.

Alvarez had run for different elected positions in the past, but this would be his first victory.

His candidacy was supported by congressman Adriano Espaillat, who has been cultivating a new generation of Dominican-American leaders in Upper Manhattan and the West Bronx.

“I think it says a lot about Espaillat’s power, strength, in terms of his political organization, which is very well organized,” said Eli Valentín, a political analyst.

Rivera led the Bronx Democratic Party organization in the early 2000s, spearheading the political careers of a generation of Latino elected officials, including two of his children.

Now there’s a generational shift, and also a demographic one, with Dominicans being the largest Latino group in the Bronx.

"I'll be retiring from the State Assembly, but I'll never retire from the community that I love and have served," Rivera said in a statement.