During Tuesday’s Democratic Primary in suburban New York, George Latimer, a pro-Israel centrist, defeated US Rep. Jamaal Bowman; a contest which displayed the deep divisions in the party over the war in Gaza.
With this win, Latimer will have removed from Congress one of its most liberal voices and one of its greatest critics of Israel. No wonder, he accuses Israel of alleged genocide as it kills many Palestinians by bombing them.
George Latimer is a former state legislator who was urged into the race by Jewish leaders and backed heavily by AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) and has been County Executive for Westchester since 2018.
George Latimer said something about needing more civility during his victory speech after what had been a bitter campaign.
While accepting defeat at an event held in White Plains and attended by his supporters, George Latimer stated that “we need to fight to avoid vilifying each other and remember that we are all Americans with common destinies.”
“We argue, we debate until we find a way to come together,” he added noting that every representative had a duty to find ways of crossing political lines. Because they would not allow this country break apart into pieces.
Bowman had been trying for reelection for third term representing a district in New York City’s northern suburbs. For progressive Democrats within their party, his loss could be seen as an admonition on how they should shape their messages around the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
It also upset what has generally been an uneventful primary season for congressional incumbents. While most current members of Congress have fought off challenges from within their own parties., GOP Rep. Bob Good is locked in a toss-up with challenger supported by Donald Trump
“I want justice from you guys always such movement it’s also going to be about humanity it’s always going to be about equality,” stated Bowman at his election party in Yonkers. While conceding that he lost the election but not apologizing for his opposition to the war in Gaza.
The American Israel public affairs committee’s PAC spent nearly $15 million on the race running negative ads against Bowman who has accused them of trying to buy the race.
“The results in this race demonstrate once again that being pro-Israel is both good policy and good politics – for both parties,” read a statement from AIPAC.
Some top progressive figures have come out guns blazing in support of Bowman. He campaigned along with liberal representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders during the final days. While Latimer gained former presidential candidate and ex-New York Senator Hillary Clinton’s endorsement.
Both Latimer and Bowman are two-state solution proponents when it comes to Israel. They have both also condemned an attack by Hamas on Southern Israel on October 7 claiming over 1,200 lives. But when all progressive members except few refused a motion adopted by House. Which was a symbolic show of support for Israel following October 7 attacks, they did so among others. In contrast, George Latimer completely defends Israel as he considers it a terrorist organization; therefore, negotiating with Hamas about peace is out of question.
Bowman was initially elected in the year 2020 after he ran against moderate U.S. Rep Eliot Engel as a liberal insurgency, a congressman who chaired the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for sixteen years. This year Bowman is 48 and he has also adhered to this political outsider strategy with which he lambasted Latimer as an instrument of republican donors and pro-Israel groups.
Latimer said that only part of the reason why he decided to challenge the incumbent was due to his criticism of Israel. He argued that whilst Bowman had not been paying enough attention to the needs of District, he has had no relationships with its leaders. And spent more time searching for spots on cable news networks than helping people.
During campaigns, however, Latimer often proved his in-depth knowledge of local matters and connections as a way of demonstrating his ability to be an effective member of Congress. That’s what people expect from their elected officials not caustic fights between the far right and far left – a clear dig at Bowman.
Apart from his stance on Israel, there have been lingering questions about another incident involving Bowman last year. When he set off a fire alarm in a House building while lawmakers were working on an appropriations bill. The alarm went off when I tried opening locked door as I went to vote. Censured by colleagues in house this incident drew embarrassing coverage on news outlets.
Since coming into office after Bowman’s first win in 2020, boundaries within congressional district were redrawn recently. So that it lost most of Bronx sections but added more Westchester County suburbs into them.
Today, U.S.Census figures indicate it is now 21% black and 42% non-Hispanic white compared to having been made up of 30% blacks and just over one-third whites up until 2022. While Bowman is African American, Latimer is Caucasian.
As election day approached, however, Bowman focused on trying to increase turnout in what is left of the Bronx in his district, telling them that this election could be decided by their votes. He spent much of his election day in the Bronx too and a video posted on X. For example, showed Bowman walking down street there with a drum line behind him this past Tuesday.
Will be the prohibitive favorite to win in general election 70-year-old George Latimer. The District includes sections of Westchester and a small part of Bronx – it is considered to be one of New York State’s Democratic Party strongholds.
Democrat leaders at large have been stressing move towards more centrist candidates who might do better in suburban races.
In addition, on Tuesday Democratic voters on Long Island chose John Avlon, a former CNN anchor as their candidate against Republican Rep. Nick LaLota in a district which has been controlled by GOP for ten years now.
Defeated retired chemistry professor Nancy Goroff during the primary election however. This is because Democrats prioritize flipping suburban seats in New York such as those located within Long Island as part of their strategy to take over majority control of House.
But for Democrats winning it will be an uphill struggle come November since they changed its borders slightly. During redistricting last time which made it marginally more favorable to Republicans in an attempt to boost their chances elsewhere.
Democrat voters in Central New York chose State Senator John Mannion to be the party’s candidate against Brandon Williams, a Republican representative of a redrawn congressional district that Biden carried by an 11-point margin over Trump in the last election.
Mannion won over Sarah Hood who is a Councilor in Dewitt Town outside Syracuse City.
In another race, Claudia Tenney who has been serving as US Rep. retained her seat after winning over Mario Fratto; a lawyer and entrepreneur he had earlier unsuccessfully contested for the same position during the previous primary in this safe republican seat on Lake Ontario.
