Next week voters will head to the polls in Queens for a special election to replace former Senator Hiram Monserrate. Monserrate was expelled by his peers after an investigation into his conviction of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. But despite that, Monserrate is fighting to get it back. He has launched a vicious campaign against the Democratic Party's endorsed candidate, Jose Peralta. Our Bobby Cuza has more on how the special election for the state Senate is shaping up.

QUEENS, N.Y. -- He may have been ousted from the state Senate, but there's nothing stopping Hiram Monserrate from running in the special election to fill his own empty seat. So he's doing just that, and he has both name recognition, and what he calls a long record of delivering results.

"On the 16th of March, I expect to be re-elected by this community, who knows this leader-Hiram Monserrate, who fights the establishment on a daily basis to bring resources and respect to this community," said Monserrate.

Monserrate officially launched his campaign Tuesday, playing up his record on issues like crime and education. But he also carries the stain of a misdemeanor assault conviction for dragging his girlfriend through the hallway of his Queens apartment building.

Monserrate lost the backing of the Queens Democratic establishment, which supports his opponent, Assemblyman Jose Peralta. As a result, Monserrate had to petition his way onto the ballot under the party name Yes We Can, whose official logo is nearly identical to the Obama's campaign. The Democratic National Committee asked Monserrate to drop the logo. He says his is different.

"This logo is similar to the slogan that they used, but slightly different, because the logo actually is a Q, which stands for the great borough of Queens. If folks had really analyzed it, they would have seen it," Monserrate said.

For his party, Peralta says he's the candidate who will bring experience and stability to the job, pointing out it was Monserrate who participated in a Senate coup last summer that brought state government to a halt.

"The ex-senator has really become the Bernie Madoff of politics. The ex-senator has really promised a lot, and has done more harm than good," said Peralta

As for fliers that have attacked Peralta's support of gay rights, Monserrate, who is against gay marriage, says he has no knowledge of them.

"People are out there doing their thing. You know, I can't speak to that," said Monserrate.

Monserrate also still hasn't given up his legal fight to have his expulsion overturned and to block Tuesday's special election. A hearing on that is scheduled for Friday.