Jamaal Bowman Defeated by George Latimer in Most Expensive House Primary

Jun 26, 2024, 12:57 AM

In a highly contentious and expensive primary race, Rep. Jamaal Bowman has been defeated by Westchester County Executive George Latimer in New York's 16th Congressional District. This primary, marked by significant spending from pro-Israel groups like AIPAC, has highlighted deep divisions within the Democratic Party over issues such as U.S. policy on Israel and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Bowman, a member of the progressive 'Squad,' faced a multimillion-dollar effort from the AIPAC-affiliated United Democracy Project, which spent $14.5 million supporting Latimer. The race has drawn national attention and involvement from prominent figures like Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Bowman's loss is seen as a major setback for progressives and a potential shift in the Democratic Party's stance on Middle Eastern policy. This is the most expensive House primary in history, and Bowman is the first member of the 'Squad' to lose a primary.