Rep. Jamaal Bowman from New York is gearing up for his primary race against challenger George Latimer, Westchester County Executive. The attack began when President Joe Biden announced that he would withhold sending offensive weapons to Israel in the event of a ground invasion into Rafah. Bowman, a pro-Palestinian incumbent, criticized Latimer for supposedly not commenting on Biden’s decision.
In response to reports that Latimer would not address Biden’s plans, Bowman took to Twitter to express his disappointment, accusing Latimer of choosing his Republican donors over supporting President Biden. The “Republican megadonor” mentioned by Bowman is believed to be the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which has supported Latimer’s campaign financially.
While Latimer has shown strong support for Israel, he did speak out against the Israel Defense Forces attack on a World Central Kitchen aid vehicle in April. With a significant Jewish population in Westchester County, Latimer’s stance on Israel may attract support, especially as Bowman has been vocal in his criticism of Israel following the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Despite polling numbers showing Latimer leading by 17 points, the upcoming primary on June 25 will determine the Democratic nominee for New York’s 16th Congressional District. Bowman and Latimer will face off in this critical race.
