New Yorkers sent a clear message on Tuesday, decisively rejecting Rep. Jamaal Bowman in what has become the most expensive House primary race in U.S. history. Bowman, who represents parts of Westchester County and the northern Bronx, is the first Democratic incumbent and member of the progressive “Squad” to be ousted from Congress this cycle. However, he may not be the last, as left-leaning activists and organizations are now shifting their focus to upcoming primaries in other states.
The next significant test for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party will be the August 6 primary in Missouri, where incumbent Rep. Cori Bush faces a strong challenge from St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell. Like Bowman, Bush is a sophomore lawmaker and a member of the “Squad.” Polls indicate a tight race, with factors such as opposition to Israel, conflicts with President Biden, and other non-ideological issues playing a significant role.
In a statement to USA Today, Bush praised Bowman as a “brother-in-service” and highlighted his work as a middle school principal. She also noted that the same “extremists” targeting her district would not silence or sell out her constituents. “We will continue to fight for the future St. Louis deserves and show that organized people beat organized money,” Bush said. “Because St. Louis is not for sale.”
A recent poll released on June 25 showed Bell catching up with Bush, trailing her by just one percentage point, making the race a statistical tie with 11% of voters still undecided. “This is going to be an important and close fight in Missouri,” said Wa’el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Action, a Muslim American advocacy group that supported Bowman.
Political observers have been quick to analyze Bowman’s loss to Westchester County Executive George Latimer. Many on the activist left attribute the defeat to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its affiliated super PAC, the United Democracy Project, which poured over $7 million into the race. The group highlighted Bowman’s voting record, including his opposition to President Biden’s bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure law and his rhetoric about the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“We should be outraged when a super PAC of dark money can spend millions of dollars to brainwash people into believing something that isn’t true,” Bowman said during his concession speech. Latimer, who outpaced Bowman by more than $1.5 million in fundraising, argued that he was just as liberal as Bowman on many issues but accused the congressman of ignoring constituents who weren’t Black or Hispanic.
Alzayat expressed concern about the influence of conservative donors in Democratic primaries. “It’s become a vehicle for far-right GOP billionaires and funders to funnel their money to interfere in Democratic primaries to select more favorable candidates within the Democratic Party,” he said.
Critics within the party argue that Bowman’s loss was due to larger issues, including his disconnection from the district. Some pointed to other distractions, such as Bowman’s censure for pulling a fire alarm in the Cannon House office building during a vote last September. Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Latimer supporter, commented on social media, “Tonight middle school children who pull fire alarms and do it while denying rape as a weapon of war lost.”
Bush, like Bowman, has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, which has led to tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths in response to the October 7, 2023, terror attack. She also faces controversy, with the U.S. Justice Department investigating whether she misused campaign funds for personal security, a claim she denies.
Other members of “the Squad” have successfully fended off primary challenges rooted in the Israel-Hamas debate. For instance, Rep. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania won her primary despite accusations of “stoking hatred” and “anti-Semitism.” However, AIPAC’s PAC did not raise money for her challenger, and she did not have additional controversies.
So far, AIPAC’s PAC has facilitated roughly $1.8 million in donations to Bell’s campaign. Justice Democrats, a PAC critical of U.S. aid to Israel, has raised close to $100,000 for Bush and expects a “multi-million dollar coordinated effort” in support of her campaign, according to spokesperson Usamah Andrabi.
The defeat of Bowman has raised concerns about the future of other progressive incumbents. “The pendulum has swung back,” said Jay Jacobs, chair of the New York Democratic Party. “It’s a clear indication that the Democratic Party has moved toward wanting common-sense solutions and governance, favoring those candidates over those from the extreme.”
However, progressives argue that Bowman’s defeat should not be seen as a bellwether. They point out that the district’s boundaries had shifted since Bowman first won office in 2020, losing sections of the Bronx that included Black and brown voters crucial to his base and gaining more of Westchester County’s suburbs.
Bowman had other stumbles, including the fire alarm incident and accusations of being more focused on foreign affairs than community-based activities. Despite these issues, his congressional allies believe the nearly $15 million spent by AIPAC’s super PAC had the most significant impact on the race.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said, “I think all Democrats should be able to see how bad this is for Democratic politics that there’s a huge amount of money coming in to influence a congressional race in a Democratic primary.”
With the backing of AIPAC and local Jewish leaders, Latimer managed to oust one of the most liberal voices in Congress. Bowman accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, a stance that drew significant opposition. AIPAC and its affiliated super PAC filled airwaves and mailboxes with negative ads against Bowman, who responded by accusing the pro-Israel group of trying to buy the race.
Latimer argued that Bowman’s criticism of Israel was only part of the reason he decided to challenge the incumbent. He claimed Bowman had not been attentive to the district’s needs and was more interested in appearing on television than helping people. Latimer’s extensive knowledge of the region and its needs, gained from three decades as a local and state official, resonated with voters.
Even Jayapal acknowledged the impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Bowman’s race. “I think Jamaal has a much harder district than many other progressives because a big section of the district is extremely wealthy and very connected to certain views about Israel and the Middle East,” she said.
The next test for progressives will be Rep. Cori Bush’s primary in Missouri. Like Bowman, Bush has been vocal about Israel’s actions in Gaza and faces significant spending against her from AIPAC. While progressives insist Bowman’s loss won’t have sweeping implications for Bush or other progressive Democrats, they admit that Tuesday’s outcome has put them on the defensive.
“The message to progressives is, stand by your values but don’t make unnecessary mistakes that can allow you to be singled out by right-wing billionaires who want to make an example of someone,” said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.
Source: USA Today, Associated Press, CNN
