New York Democrats' divide over Israel erupts into feud
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Reps. Jamaal Bowman and Ritchie Torres. Photos: Celal Gunes/Anadolu; Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) on Sunday threatened to endorse Rep. Jamaal Bowman's (D-N.Y.) primary challenger after Bowman criticized his support for Israel.
Why it matters: It's the latest instance of Bowman's increasingly pro-Palestinian positions putting him publicly at odds with once close political allies.
Driving the news: In a podcast interview on Saturday, Bowman described Torres as "very calculated" in discussing his staunchly pro-Israel politics.
- "I think he's trying to gain political power for himself towards an ultimate objective. I don't know if it's U.S. Senate. I don't know what it is. But it's something," Bowman said.
- Bowman is facing a strong challenge from pro-Israel Westchester County executive George Latimer in his June 25 Democratic primary.
What they're saying: Torres told Axios in a statement that he has a "general rule of not weighing in against a Congressional Democrat who has not weighed in against me."
- He added: "But Bowman's gratuitous attack on my character might cause me to rethink that rule. Stay tuned."
- In a post on X, Torres took aim at Bowman for pulling a Capitol Hill fire alarm last year, adding: "His opinion of me is worse than a rubber stamp—it leaves no impression, much like his legislative record.
- Bowman did not respond to a request for comment.
Zoom out: Torres is not the first pro-Israel Democrat with whom Bowman has publicly clashed in recent weeks.
- Former Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.), once a close progressive ally of Bowman now running as a pro-Israel moderate in an adjacent swing district, endorsed Latimer earlier this month.
- "Rep. Bowman and I have very different views on Israel," Jones said in a statement at the time, saying he was "horrified" by some of Bowman's comments on Israel.
- Jones had his endorsement from the Congressional Progressive Caucus' political arm rescinded for the move.
What to watch: Bowman is locked in a fight for his political life as polling shows Latimer with a double digit lead.
- Bowman is backed by House Democratic leadership, Latimer last week notched a high-profile endorsement from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a Westchester resident.
- Latimer had raised $5.8 million to Bowman's $4.3 milion as of June 5, with the political arm of pro-Israel group AIPAC pouring additional millions into ads against Bowman.
