Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) faced off against Democratic primary challenger George Latimer in a heated debate as he fights to retain his seat representing New York. Bowman, a member of the “Squad” along with Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), has been vocal in his criticism of Israel in the House of Representatives, leading to a primary challenge in New York’s 16th Congressional District. The debate, which touched on Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza, highlighted a contentious exchange over the phrase “from the river to the sea.” Bowman defended the phrase, while Latimer condemned it as “hate speech.”
During the debate, Bowman also criticized Latimer for accepting money from the pro-Israel lobbying group American Israel Public Affairs Committee, accusing him of being too friendly with hard-right Republicans like Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). Latimer pushed back, pointing to Bowman’s own interactions with Greene, including a heated exchange on the Capitol steps.
The debate took a bitter turn when Latimer questioned Bowman’s effectiveness in Congress, prompting Bowman to accuse him of employing stereotypes like the “angry black man” trope. The primary race between Bowman, a pro-Palestinian House Democrat, and Latimer is scheduled for June 25.
