Jun 25, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Rep. Jamaal Bowman loses primary to foe George Latimer

Andrew Solender

Rep. Jamaal Bowman, wearing a blue suit and glasses, standing in front of a tree and a banner. — Rep. Jamaal Bowman. Photo:

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) lost his primary election to Westchester County Executive George Latimer, according to AP.

Why it matters: Bowman, a prominent member of the progressive "Squad," is the first member of Congress to lose their primary to a non-incumbent challenger this cycle.

Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) lost to fellow Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.) the two lawmakers were drawn into the same district

State of play: Bowman has faced more than $17 million in negative ads, mostly from pro-Israel PACs, though the opposition has made scant mention of his criticism of Israel.

Latimer ran to Bowman's right, hammering the incumbent as out of step with the district and too focused on attention-grabbing antics.
Bowman's progressive supporters homed in on Latimer's inflammatory statements and GOP donations to AIPAC, whose PAC arm — United Democracy Project — ran the bulk of the anti-Bowman ads.

Between the lines: Bowman's shift from a pro-Israel supporter of a two-state solution when he first entered office in 2021 to a vocal Israel critic in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack put him on difficult ground in a heavily Jewish district in the New York suburbs.

But Bowman was also damaged politically when he pulled a Capitol Hill fire alarm last fall, leading to him pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge and being censured in a House vote.

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Rep. Jamaal Bowman loses primary to foe George Latimer

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