Rep. Jamaal Bowman fights for political survival in race exposing deep Democratic divisions

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. — Bernie Sanders has lined up on one side of the race, Hillary Clinton on the other. A Democratic House primary in New York is in many ways a redux of the 2016 presidential primary — with much of the familiar vitriol. 

Tuesday’s election between progressive Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., and centrist challenger George Latimer — which has attracted the most ad spending of any House primary in history — has re-exposed fault lines from that bitterly fought race eight years ago and highlighted the gaping divide in the Democratic Party over the Israel-Hamas war.

Bowman, one of the fiercest critics of Israel in Congress, is fighting for his political life as he tries to fend off an onslaught of attack ads and win a third term. The United Democracy Project, a super PAC tied to the powerful pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), alone has poured nearly $15 million into ads to oust Bowman and elect Latimer, the Westchester County executive who has spent more than three decades in local politics.

That spending comes in a diverse district north of Manhattan that mixes urban and suburban areas, and is home to one of the most significant Jewish American populations in the country.

As they criss-crossed New York’s 16th District in the final stretch of the race, Bowman and Latimer acknowledged that the Gaza war and record spending have made this a national race. 

Latimer “was recruited by AIPAC to run against me because I called for a permanent cease-fire very early on. AIPAC and affiliates are pouring in an unprecedented amount of money … and so that makes it essential,” Bowman said in an interview with NBC News in Mount Vernon, a New York City suburb in southern Westchester County.

“Do you want to send an educator back to Congress who spent his entire life serving children and families and babies in our community and uplifting the working class?” said Bowman, 48, a former middle school principal in the Bronx. “Or do you want a career politician who is funded by right-wing Republican billionaires, literally buying our democracy? The choice is crystal clear.”

Latimer, 70, has also sought to strike clear contrast, both in substance and tone, describing himself as more “diplomatic” at a Monday campaign stop.

Bucking Bowman’s allegation that his potential success Tuesday is AIPAC’s alone, Latimer told reporters at an event with Black faith leaders: “We had some internal polling data before a dime was spent on this race and the initial positive-negative comparisons that I had and the incumbent … had me ahead at the outset. So if anybody says, ‘Oh, you spent this much money, that’s why you won,’ that wouldn’t be accurate. We were ahead at the very outset.”

“He said, ‘I want to give you a choice, I want to give you something different,” Latimer told NBC News Monday, referencing Bowman’s 2020 challenge to longtime Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel. “So I don’t see why my stepping forward is any different now.”

National figures hit the trail

In the closing days of the campaign, Bowman brought out some progressive heavy hitters in an attempt to boost turnout during what would normally be a sleepy summer primary.

At a pair of campaign events Friday and Saturday, Bowman appeared with Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont and hero of the left who took on Clinton and the Democratic establishment in 2016. Another progressive star, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents a neighboring New York district, appeared with Bowman and Sanders at the Saturday event in the Bronx.

“My opponent and AIPAC are the ones destroying democracy,” Bowman shouted at the Saturday rally, his words embodying the acrimony and bitterness that have come to define the tone of this race. “We’re going to show f—ing AIPAC the power of the mother f—ing South Bronx.” (The South Bronx was previously a part of this district but was drawn out in the recent redistricting cycle.)

Sanders, who is Jewish, called the race “one of the most important in the modern history of America,” warning that lawmakers won’t stand up to big-money special interests in the future if Bowman is defeated on Tuesday.

“You say what? District 16, Bronx, New York, the most important in American history? Really? Yes, really. Because this election is not about Jamaal versus Mr. Latimer,” Sanders told a crowd of about 300 people. “This election is about whether or not the billionaire class and the oligarchs will control the United States government. And our view is, no, they won’t.”

Ocasio-Cortez, who like Bowman is a member of “the Squad” of progressive lawmakers of color, told rallygoers that she believes Bowman is being targeted because of his pro-Palestinian views and “racism.” Earlier this year, AIPAC tried and failed to unseat another Black Squad member in an area with significant Jewish residents, Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa.

“It is not lost on us that the one representative out of 435 that these big-money interests pick … who they want to make an example of is a Black man, the son of a single mother raised in public housing, and later founded one of those most recognized public schools in all of New York City from right here in the South Bronx,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “It is not lost on us — we see the racism at play.”

Asked about these accusations, which have boiled over in the race’s waning days, Latimer attempted to clarify controversial comments he’s made, ultimately concluding: “They’re trying to hang onto any claim they can, to try to make me something that I’m not.”

What did he mean by saying that Bowman has an “ethnic benefit” in the diverse district? “He connects to the Bronx because he has a common demographic with the majority of people in the Bronx,” Latimer explained. “All I was doing was answering the question with the same kind of practical understanding that makes for politics.”

As for a recent swipe that Bowman’s “constituency is in Dearborn, Michigan” — an area with a large Muslim population — Latimer pushed back against Bowman’s charge that the comment amounted to a racial dog whistle.

“He has a joint-fundraising effort with Rep. [Rashida] Tlaib. She’s based in Dearborn,” Latimer said, referring to the Michigan congresswoman who is also a member of the Squad.

Latimer, too, has some star power in his corner. In announcing her endorsement for Latimer this month, Clinton, a constituent of his in Westchester County, made no mention of Israel, but said Latimer “will protect abortion rights, stand up to the NRA, and fight for President Biden’s agenda — just like he’s always done.”

Former Rep. Mondaire Jones, D-N.Y., a onetime Bowman ally who is seeking a comeback in a neighboring district, is backing Latimer because of Bowman’s remarks on Israel. And on Monday, another key moderate Democrat, Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, the co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, endorsed Latimer over his House colleague.  

“We need more common-sense leaders and problem solvers in Congress,” Gottheimer, who is Jewish, said on X. “I know George will fight hate in all forms, and stand up for the values we all believe in.”

Asked about the heavy hitters lining up behind Latimer, Bowman took a not-so-subtle shot at Clinton.

“I don’t know how much of a heavy hitter Hillary Clinton is, with all due respect. The people care more about Hakeem Jeffries, myself, and the future of the Democratic Party,” Bowman said, referring to the House minority leader and fellow New York Democrat, who along with his top lieutenants have all endorsed Bowman but have not campaigned with him.

Bowman backtracks

Bowman, known for his frequent use of profanity and confrontational approach on Capitol Hill, isn’t usually one to apologize. But the vocal Israel critic backtracked in recent days for initially saying that reports of sexual violence during the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack in Israel were “propaganda” and “lies.”

“The U.N. confirmed incidents of sexual assault. Once the UN confirmed it, we condemned it immediately,” Bowman told NBC News. “We cannot trust Benjamin Netanyahu. Benjamin Netanyahu has lied to the president. And the president in the White House had to walk back things that Benjamin Netanyahu told them. So, we can’t trust Benjamin Netanyahu. And so I’m not going to go on his word that something occurred.”

Attack ads have also accused Bowman of opposing pieces of Biden’s agenda and breaking with the president on certain votes. Bowman pushed back on that narrative, pointing to his endorsement of Biden last year. 

“I’ve already supported President Biden and endorsed President Biden. Again, this is propaganda from the ads. I voted with the president 94% of the time. I wrote multiple amendments for the CHIPS and Science Act. … I’ve shared the stage with him multiple times,” Bowman said. “It’s a joke and a lie to say that I’m not with President Biden. … It’s $30 million of brainwashing on ads and mailers.”