Jamaal Bowman fights for political survival as NY voters head to polls

Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman is fighting for his political survival as voters head to the polls in New York for the Democratic primary. The far-left Squad member is locked in a contentious primary against George Latimer, and polls show he is hanging on by a thread.

The primary will test whether his support for Palestinians, his furious criticism of Israel and his progressive policies will lead to his downfall in his Bronx and Westchester district. Bowman is seeking a third term in a primary that has seen historic levels of spending, and could be the first member of the progressive Squad booted from Congress if defeated.

The powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has poured $15 million into the campaign against him. 'We are going to show [expletive] AIPAC, the power of the [expletive] South Bronx!' Bowman yelled Saturday at a rally with fellow progressive 'Squad' member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

Bowman has long been critical of Israel - even more so since the Hamas attack on October 7, despite his district having a large Jewish constituency. The former principal who once pulled the fire alarm in the Capitol during votes has lost the support of at least one colleague: Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., came out in support of Latimer on Monday.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also jumped into the race on Latimer's side. A survey from earlier this month by Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill released Tuesday found Latimer leading Bowman with 48 percent support to 31 percent, with 21 percent of respondents undecided.

Bowman opposed funding for Israel and has deemed the nation's attacks in Gaza a 'genocide.' In a final debate with Latimer on Tuesday, Bowman, 48, who is black, went after Latimer for his close ties to AIPAC and claimed he slow-walked desegregation as Westchester County executive.

'He claims to be a Democrat, but he is supported by racist MAGA Republicans who support taking your voting rights — gutting your abortion rights,' Bowman said. 'This is an example of using race as a weapon,' Latimer shot back. 'What we need to do is bring people together.' Last week Bowman came under fire for a new report claiming he asked a Jewish leader to send him photos of them together to prove he has Jewish friends.

A private text between Bowman and an unidentified Jewish leader from when Bowman first ran for re-election in 2022 was published by Jewish Insider on Tuesday. 'Do you have pics of us? So I can show the world I'm friends with Jewish People,' Bowman wrote, according to the report.

The leader did have a photo with Bowman, but did not share it with the congressman. 'I was uncomfortable,' the Jewish leader said of the awkward message. 'I kind of joked around with him about it. I said, 'Oh, I'm sure you guys have it. Don't worry about it.' 'I was like, 'I don't want to be his court Jew,' he said. 'That wasn't what I signed up for.'

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