Rep. Jamaal Bowman faces a tough challenge from George Latimer in suburban New York Democratic primary

Rep. Jamaal Bowman, some of the liberal members of Congress, will attempt to fend off a strong Democratic primary challenge on Tuesday from moderate County Executive George Latimer in a New York race that has make clear party divisions over the Israel-Hamas war.

Latimer entered the race on the urging of Jewish leaders upset by Bowman’s criticism of Israel.

An enormous amount of cash, mostly related to the US Israel Public Affairs Commission, has flowed into the race, which is opposing Bowman after he accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, where greater than 37,000 Palestinians were killed. Bowman also opposed a symbolic House resolution to support Israel following the October 7 Hamas attack.

Federal Election Commission data shows that the AIPAC-allied super PAC spent nearly $15 million on the primary election. The money was covered by a deluge of ads attacking Bowman, who accused an influential pro-Israel lobbying group of attempting to buy the race in the mostly suburban district north of New York City.

Bowman’s loss would disrupt a generally stable primary season for officials serving in Congress. Most current members of Congress have been capable of fend off challenges from inside their party, although GOP Rep. Bob Good is in a tight race against a rival backed by Donald Trump and the race is just too near call.

Some major progressive figures rushed to Bowman’s defense. In the ultimate stages of the race, he joined forces with liberal Republican favorites Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders, while Latimer received the support of former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

The winner of the primary election can be the overwhelming favorite to win the overall election. The district, which incorporates a part of Westchester County and a small sliver of the Bronx, is a Democratic stronghold.

The primary fight emerged as a case study in where Democratic voters might stand against Israel and exposed ever-growing tensions between the party’s liberals and centrists.

Latimer, 70, has been in politics for greater than three many years. He served in the state legislature for years before becoming Westchester County executive in 2018. His campaign was largely about his knowledge of the district and the relationships that allowed him to be an efficient member of Congress.

Featured Stories

Latimer says he desires to go to the House to get what he can for the district, not to attain political points or appear on cable news. He has presented himself as a staunch supporter of Israel and claims that the country cannot negotiate a ceasefire with Hamas because Hamas is a terrorist organization.

Bowman, a former middle school principal, described the race as a contest between big-money donors and average voters. He vigorously defended his position on Israel and calls for a ceasefire in the present conflict, while condemning Hamas for its attack on Israel on October 7.

In an interview before the election, Bowman said he didn’t listen to the noise surrounding the race. Instead, he said he desires to proceed helping working-class people in the district and check out to have interaction young people in the political process.

Bowman is looking for a third term in a district whose boundaries have modified since he first won election in 2020, losing most sections in the Bronx and adding more suburbs to Westchester County.

Currently, in accordance with census data, 21% of the voting-age population is black and 42% is non-Hispanic white, in comparison with 30% black and 34% white in the district as of 2022. Bowman it’s black. Latimer is white.

Across the country, Democratic Party leaders have emphasized a shift toward centrist candidates who could do higher in suburban races.

New York Democrats can even determine one other primary on Tuesday, this time on the eastern tip of Long Island, between former CNN pundit John Avlon and scientist Nancy Goroff.

The seat, represented by Republican incumbent Nick LaLota, is one in all a handful of Democratic targets in New York because the party tries to flip suburban congressional districts and regain control of the House.

Avlon has drawn some endorsements from party officials, including some current members of Congress, who say he can take a moderate stance to oppose LaLota in an area that has shifted to the suitable in recent elections. Goroff ran for the seat in 2020 but lost by about 10 points.

Also on Tuesday, Republican Claudia Tenney will face a primary challenge from businessman Mario Fratto in a sprawling, Conservative district that features the state’s Finger Lakes region and rural areas along Lake Ontario. Tenney defeated Fratto by 14 points in the 2022 primary.