Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s official endorsement by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has put an end to months of conjecture over the beleaguered progressive’s status inside the Democratic Party as a result of his vocal criticism of Israel.
In his bid for reelection, Bowman must contend with a fierce primary in the 16th Congressional District. The Democrat running against him, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, is more moderate and backs Israel’s continuous onslaught on Gaza. Before Jeffries’ support, prominent Democratic figures in Washington had mostly remained silent on the contest.
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In a recently issued statement, Jeffries, together with Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California and Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, stated as much, “We stand together to endorse our colleague Jamaal Bowman for re-election.”
“Rep. Bowman’s life experiences – raised by a single mom in public housing and founding a public school serving low-income children in the Bronx – have shaped him into a public servant who fights for economic justice and in defense of historically underrepresented communities.”
For Bowman, who only covers a small portion of the southern Westchester and northern Bronx, Jeffries’ support is an important addition. Bowman has persisted in calling for an ongoing cease-fire and has been under fire from supporters of Israel as well as from voters since Latimer is supported by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a notorious figure within the left side of the party. Over the years, AIPAC has also supported Jeffries.
With a $1.4 million harvest driven by AIPAC outreach, Latimer outraised Bowman almost two to one in the most recent quarter. Bowman has been fiercely defended against accusations by an antiwar faction both inside and outside the district, although he is preferred by people who are outraged by Bowman’s remarks regarding the war.
Notably, in Israel, Jeffries is on Bowman’s right and is a Brooklyn native. However, Jeffries has supported several progressive incumbents this election cycle who are up against strong primary opponents. These include Representatives Summer Lee of Pennsylvania and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who are both under criticism for remarks they made against Israel.
On October 7, Hamas militants broke into Israel, causing 1,200 deaths and kidnapping over 200 people, according to Israel. In response, Israel invaded Gaza, resulting in more than 32,000 deaths overall, with women and children accounting for more than two-thirds of the casualties, according to the health ministry in Gaza. Hunger is a serious issue and may strike Gaza “anytime,” according to UN warnings.
Bowman declared himself “proud” to receive the backing of House Democrats.
Bowman remarked in a statement, “Together, we’ve stood up against powerful special interests and extreme MAGA Republicans to deliver much-needed progress for poor and working people everywhere.” He added, “We have more work to do and I’m excited to continue working with the House Democratic leadership to defend our democracy, protect our rights, and fight for the people.”
The more established members of the community, such as Democratic city and town committees and former Representative Eliot Engel, whom Bowman defeated in the 2020 Democratic primary, have endorsed Latimer.
Latimer maintained his confidence in his chances in a statement sent by his team.
“As a former leader of a legislative body, I understand that it is normal for leaders to support incumbent members of that body,” Latimer stated. “My support base is strong in the district among Democrats where the primary will be decided. I look forward to voting for [House Minority] Leader Jeffries for speaker next January.”
