Pro-Israel candidate defeats Jamaal Bowman in US primary after record AIPAC funding
George Latimer, a pro-Israel centrist has defeated progressive incumbent Jamaal Bowman in a primary election to select the democratic candidate for New York’s 16th congressional district, the Associated Press is reporting.
Before the election, Bowman’s district was flooded with an unprecedented $12m in attack advertisements and messaging, funded by the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Observers say AIPAC’s record funding to unseat Bowman was a direct result of his vocal criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza.
In a post on social media before results came in Bowman said, “we’re rising up against AIPAC and their right-wing billionaires. Every vote is going to count in ensuring that we defend the voice of the people!”
Jamaal Bowman, has been the representative for New York’s 16th congressional district since 2021
George Latimer won preselection for the safe Democrat seat currently held by Bowman
George Latimer will defeat House ‘squad’ member Jamaal Bowman in historic New York Democratic primary, CNN projects
https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/25/politics/george-latimer-jamaal-bowman-new-york-16-primary/index.html
New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman will lose his Democratic primary to Westchester County Executive George Latimer, CNN projects, marking the first defeat for a member of the House “Squad” of progressive lawmakers.
The result in New York’s 16th Congressional District is also a victory for pro-Israel groups, which backed Latimer with historic levels of spending during the campaign. According to ad tracking firm AdImpact, the race was the most expensive House primary on record.
