US congressman Jamaal Bowman, who accused Israel of genocide, loses in NY primaries
THEY HAVE IT IN THE DEMOCRATS
The victory of George Latimer, a pro-Israel centrist, has highlighted the party's deep divisions over the war in Gaza , and removed one of Israel's most outspoken critics
AP|Yesterday
George Latimer, a pro-Israel centrist, defeated U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman on Tuesday in a Democratic primary in suburban New York that highlighted the party's deep divisions over the war in Gaza.
With the victory, Latimer has ousted one of the most liberal voices in Congress and one of its most outspoken critics of Israel. Bowman has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have died in military strikes.
Latimer, who got into the race at the urging of Jewish leaders and had heavy financial backing from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is a former state legislator who has served as Westchester County executive since 2018.
U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-NY, speaks during his election night party at the Grand Roosevelt Ballroom on June 25, 2024 in New York City
(Photo: Michael M. Santiago / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
In a victory speech, Latimer called for more civility following the contentious election.
"We have to fight to make sure we don't vilify each other and we remember that we're all Americans, and our common future is bound together," he told supporters at an event in White Plains.
"We argue, we debate, we find a way to come together," he said, adding that all representatives had a duty to find ways to work across political divides and prevent the country from splintering.
Bowman had been seeking a third term, representing a district in New York City's northern suburbs. His defeat is a blow to the party's progressive wing and a potential cautionary tale for candidates trying to shape their messaging around the Israel-Hamas conflict.
His loss also disrupted what has generally been a stable primary season for congressional incumbents. Most current members of Congress have been able to repel challenges from within their party.
"This movement has always been about justice. It has always been about humanity. It has always been about equality," Bowman said at his election party in Yonkers, conceding that he lost the race but remaining unapologetic about his opposition to the war in Gaza.
His defeat is a blow to the party's progressive wing and a potential cautionary tale for candidates trying to shape their messaging around the Israel-Hamas conflict
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee's political action committee spent nearly $15 million on the primary, filling airwaves and mailboxes with negative ads in an effort to unseat Bowman, who has accused the influential pro-Israel lobbying group of trying to buy the race.
"The outcome in this race once again shows that the pro-Israel position is both good policy and good politics for both parties," the American Israel Public Affairs Committee said in a statement.
Some major progressive figures have rushed to Bowman's defense. In the final stretch of the race, he rallied with liberals Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, while Latimer pulled in the endorsement of former presidential candidate and former New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.
On Israel, both Bowman and Latimer support a two-state solution. They have also both condemned Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people. But Bowman was one of a few progressives who rejected a symbolic House resolution in support of Israel following the Oct. 7 attack. Latimer firmly backs Israel and said negotiating a cease-fire with Hamas is a non-starter because he believes it is a terrorist group.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer speaks to supporters after winning his race against Democratic incumbent Representative Jamaal Bowman in the 16th Congressional District of New York's Democratic primary
(Photo: Spencer Platt/ GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
Bowman was first elected in 2020 after running as a liberal insurgent against moderate U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, a 16-term congressman who chaired a House committee on foreign affairs. Bowman, 48, embraced the political outsider strategy this year as well, depicting Latimer as a tool of Republican donors and pro-Israel groups.
Latimer said Bowman's criticism of Israel was only part of the reason why he decided to challenge the incumbent. He said Bowman hasn't been attentive to the needs of the district, maintained few relationships with its leaders, and was more interested in getting spots on cable news than he was in helping people.
During the campaign, Latimer, who has more than three decades of political experience, often displayed his deep regional knowledge and connections to make the case that he would be an effective member of Congress. Latimer has said" that's the sort of politics people expect from their elected officials, rather than caustic fights between the far right and far left,” a clear dig at Bowman.
Aside from his position on Israel, Bowman has been followed by lingering criticism over an incident last year when he triggered a fire alarm in a House building while lawmakers were working on a funding bill. He said it was unintentional, with the alarm going off when he tried to open a locked door while trying to vote. Bowman was censured by his colleagues in the House, and the incident drew embarrassing news coverage.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee's political action committee spent nearly $15 million on the primary, filling airwaves and mailboxes with negative ads in an effort to unseat Bowman
The congressional district's boundaries have shifted since Bowman first won office in 2020, losing most of its sections in the Bronx and adding more of Westchester County's suburbs.
Today, 21% of its voting-age population is Black and 42% is non-Hispanic white, according to U.S. Census figures, compared to 30% Black and 34% white in the district as it existed through 2022. Bowman is Black. Latimer is white.
Bowman, as the election neared, focused on driving up turnout in what parts of the Bronx remain in his district, telling supporters there that the contest could hinge on their votes. He spent the bulk of his election day in the Bronx, too, and a video posted to the social media site X showed Bowman walking down a street in the Bronx with a drum line behind him on Tuesday.
Latimer, 70, will be the prohibitive favorite to win in the general election. The district, which includes parts of Westchester and a small piece of the Bronx, is a Democratic stronghold.
Nationally, Democratic Party leaders have emphasized moving toward centrist candidates who might fare better in suburban races.
FORGET THE GOP THEY ARE THE TRUMP PARTY
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee's political action committee spent nearly $15 million on the primary, filling airwaves and mailboxes with negative ads in an effort to unseat Bowman
AP|Yesterday
George Latimer, a pro-Israel centrist, defeated U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman on Tuesday in a Democratic primary in suburban New York that highlighted the party's deep divisions over the war in Gaza.
With the victory, Latimer has ousted one of the most liberal voices in Congress and one of its most outspoken critics of Israel. Bowman has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have died in military strikes.
Latimer, who got into the race at the urging of Jewish leaders and had heavy financial backing from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is a former state legislator who has served as Westchester County executive since 2018.
U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-NY, speaks during his election night party at the Grand Roosevelt Ballroom on June 25, 2024 in New York City
(Photo: Michael M. Santiago / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
In a victory speech, Latimer called for more civility following the contentious election.
"We have to fight to make sure we don't vilify each other and we remember that we're all Americans, and our common future is bound together," he told supporters at an event in White Plains.
"We argue, we debate, we find a way to come together," he said, adding that all representatives had a duty to find ways to work across political divides and prevent the country from splintering.
Bowman had been seeking a third term, representing a district in New York City's northern suburbs. His defeat is a blow to the party's progressive wing and a potential cautionary tale for candidates trying to shape their messaging around the Israel-Hamas conflict.
His loss also disrupted what has generally been a stable primary season for congressional incumbents. Most current members of Congress have been able to repel challenges from within their party.
"This movement has always been about justice. It has always been about humanity. It has always been about equality," Bowman said at his election party in Yonkers, conceding that he lost the race but remaining unapologetic about his opposition to the war in Gaza.
His defeat is a blow to the party's progressive wing and a potential cautionary tale for candidates trying to shape their messaging around the Israel-Hamas conflict
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee's political action committee spent nearly $15 million on the primary, filling airwaves and mailboxes with negative ads in an effort to unseat Bowman, who has accused the influential pro-Israel lobbying group of trying to buy the race.
"The outcome in this race once again shows that the pro-Israel position is both good policy and good politics for both parties," the American Israel Public Affairs Committee said in a statement.
Some major progressive figures have rushed to Bowman's defense. In the final stretch of the race, he rallied with liberals Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, while Latimer pulled in the endorsement of former presidential candidate and former New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.
On Israel, both Bowman and Latimer support a two-state solution. They have also both condemned Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people. But Bowman was one of a few progressives who rejected a symbolic House resolution in support of Israel following the Oct. 7 attack. Latimer firmly backs Israel and said negotiating a cease-fire with Hamas is a non-starter because he believes it is a terrorist group.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer speaks to supporters after winning his race against Democratic incumbent Representative Jamaal Bowman in the 16th Congressional District of New York's Democratic primary
(Photo: Spencer Platt/ GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
Bowman was first elected in 2020 after running as a liberal insurgent against moderate U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, a 16-term congressman who chaired a House committee on foreign affairs. Bowman, 48, embraced the political outsider strategy this year as well, depicting Latimer as a tool of Republican donors and pro-Israel groups.
Latimer said Bowman's criticism of Israel was only part of the reason why he decided to challenge the incumbent. He said Bowman hasn't been attentive to the needs of the district, maintained few relationships with its leaders, and was more interested in getting spots on cable news than he was in helping people.
During the campaign, Latimer, who has more than three decades of political experience, often displayed his deep regional knowledge and connections to make the case that he would be an effective member of Congress. Latimer has said" that's the sort of politics people expect from their elected officials, rather than caustic fights between the far right and far left,” a clear dig at Bowman.
Aside from his position on Israel, Bowman has been followed by lingering criticism over an incident last year when he triggered a fire alarm in a House building while lawmakers were working on a funding bill. He said it was unintentional, with the alarm going off when he tried to open a locked door while trying to vote. Bowman was censured by his colleagues in the House, and the incident drew embarrassing news coverage.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee's political action committee spent nearly $15 million on the primary, filling airwaves and mailboxes with negative ads in an effort to unseat Bowman
The congressional district's boundaries have shifted since Bowman first won office in 2020, losing most of its sections in the Bronx and adding more of Westchester County's suburbs.
Today, 21% of its voting-age population is Black and 42% is non-Hispanic white, according to U.S. Census figures, compared to 30% Black and 34% white in the district as it existed through 2022. Bowman is Black. Latimer is white.
Bowman, as the election neared, focused on driving up turnout in what parts of the Bronx remain in his district, telling supporters there that the contest could hinge on their votes. He spent the bulk of his election day in the Bronx, too, and a video posted to the social media site X showed Bowman walking down a street in the Bronx with a drum line behind him on Tuesday.
Latimer, 70, will be the prohibitive favorite to win in the general election. The district, which includes parts of Westchester and a small piece of the Bronx, is a Democratic stronghold.
Nationally, Democratic Party leaders have emphasized moving toward centrist candidates who might fare better in suburban races.
With Bowman's NY primary defeat, the squad sees its first loss
The expected defeat of Jamaal Bowman in Tuesday's Democratic primary is the first loss for a member of the squad, and with that a major loss for Palestinians.
Brooke Anderson
Washington, DC
26 June, 2024
RELATED
Progressives fear a Bowman loss in NY could empower big money
World
Brooke Anderson
Latimer dominated the early vote, with some towns voting 10-1 in favour of him against Bowman. The race was called before 10 pm, earlier than most close primaries, showing Latimer's solid victory of over 55 percent.
It's unclear when or if Bowman realised he didn't have a path forward in the race. What is clear is that in the last months before the election he became increasingly outspoken about his concerns over unconditional US military support for Israel as well as major spending in US elections by AIPAC, two issues he saw as inextricably linked.
In May, Bowman voted with Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan on a resolution recognising the Palestinian Nakba, or catastrophe, that forced hundreds of thousands from their homes with the establishment of Israel; in a campaign rally in the Bronx over the weekend, he accused Latimer of supporting genocide, referring to Israel's war in Gaza, which has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians since October; and he has repeatedly referred to AIPAC as being led by Republican megadonors.
Does Bowman's primary loss on Tuesday mean a more emboldened mega-donor class, as some progressives say they fear could happen? Or has his outspokenness opened the floodgates for more open criticism of big money in politics?
"I've seen this sometimes. Maybe Bowman, by the end of the race, saw that he didn't have a path, and he said: Let's go out swinging. Let's not sugar coat it," J. Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, told The New Arab.
"He's still going to be in office for the rest of the year," he said. "We'll see if he becomes even more outspoken."
The expected defeat of Jamaal Bowman in Tuesday's Democratic primary is the first loss for a member of the squad, and with that a major loss for Palestinians.
Brooke Anderson
Washington, DC
26 June, 2024
NEW ARAB
Jamaal Bowman lost his congressional seat Tuesday, as predicted by polls and outside funding. [Getty]
The expected loss of Jamaal Bowman in Tuesday's Democratic primary is the first loss for a member of the progressive "squad", and with that a major loss for Palestinian voices in US Congress. What does this mean for the future?
In an institution where there is heavy pressure to conform to longstanding norms, Bowman found a home in the "squad" of young progressives, who, through working together, have been able to bring to the forefront issues such as organised labour, accessible healthcare, and human rights in US foreign policy, most controversially of Palestinians.
Though Bowman's fellow squad member have been able to build their brands — including their voter turnouts — on these issues (though not without challenges), Bowman struggled after his district's map was redrawn to include vast swaths of wealthy suburbs.
His district's remapping would make him one of the most vulnerable candidates in Congress for a primary challenge, leading to the most expensive House race in US history, with more than US$20 million in campaign spending.
Leading the big donors were the American Israel Public Affairs Committee through its super PAC the United Democracy Project; and Fairshake, a PAC backed by Silicon Valley executives linked to the cryptocurrency industry.
In the last election, Bowman survived his primary in part due to a split vote of his moderate Democratic opponents. This time, he had one strong opponent, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who was able to consolidate the moderate Democratic vote.
Jamaal Bowman lost his congressional seat Tuesday, as predicted by polls and outside funding. [Getty]
The expected loss of Jamaal Bowman in Tuesday's Democratic primary is the first loss for a member of the progressive "squad", and with that a major loss for Palestinian voices in US Congress. What does this mean for the future?
In an institution where there is heavy pressure to conform to longstanding norms, Bowman found a home in the "squad" of young progressives, who, through working together, have been able to bring to the forefront issues such as organised labour, accessible healthcare, and human rights in US foreign policy, most controversially of Palestinians.
Though Bowman's fellow squad member have been able to build their brands — including their voter turnouts — on these issues (though not without challenges), Bowman struggled after his district's map was redrawn to include vast swaths of wealthy suburbs.
His district's remapping would make him one of the most vulnerable candidates in Congress for a primary challenge, leading to the most expensive House race in US history, with more than US$20 million in campaign spending.
Leading the big donors were the American Israel Public Affairs Committee through its super PAC the United Democracy Project; and Fairshake, a PAC backed by Silicon Valley executives linked to the cryptocurrency industry.
In the last election, Bowman survived his primary in part due to a split vote of his moderate Democratic opponents. This time, he had one strong opponent, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who was able to consolidate the moderate Democratic vote.
RELATED
Progressives fear a Bowman loss in NY could empower big money
World
Brooke Anderson
Latimer dominated the early vote, with some towns voting 10-1 in favour of him against Bowman. The race was called before 10 pm, earlier than most close primaries, showing Latimer's solid victory of over 55 percent.
It's unclear when or if Bowman realised he didn't have a path forward in the race. What is clear is that in the last months before the election he became increasingly outspoken about his concerns over unconditional US military support for Israel as well as major spending in US elections by AIPAC, two issues he saw as inextricably linked.
In May, Bowman voted with Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan on a resolution recognising the Palestinian Nakba, or catastrophe, that forced hundreds of thousands from their homes with the establishment of Israel; in a campaign rally in the Bronx over the weekend, he accused Latimer of supporting genocide, referring to Israel's war in Gaza, which has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians since October; and he has repeatedly referred to AIPAC as being led by Republican megadonors.
Does Bowman's primary loss on Tuesday mean a more emboldened mega-donor class, as some progressives say they fear could happen? Or has his outspokenness opened the floodgates for more open criticism of big money in politics?
"I've seen this sometimes. Maybe Bowman, by the end of the race, saw that he didn't have a path, and he said: Let's go out swinging. Let's not sugar coat it," J. Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, told The New Arab.
"He's still going to be in office for the rest of the year," he said. "We'll see if he becomes even more outspoken."
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