Progressive groups reacted with disappointment and anger over Jamaal Bowman’s decisive primary loss to a moderate Democrat in New York’s 16th District, calling on the party to cut ties with pro-Israel lobby groups they blame for the outcome.
In a letter to the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives said Hakeem JeffriesMore than a dozen progressive organizations said they had “serious concerns” about the party’s continued partnership with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), “the future of the Democratic Party, the future of our multiracial democracy and the future of our planet”.
Signatories included the Center for Popular Democracy Action, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, and New York Communities for Change and New York City Democratic Socialists of America.
In the letter, they said that an Aipac-affiliated political fund, United Democracy Project, had flooded the Westchester-northern Bronx district with nearly $20 million in mailers and ads “largely funded by Republican billionaires” in the run-up to the vote, to promote Jamaal Bowman’s message of humanity, dignity and a prosperous future for all.”
The result, they said, was the ousting of a candidate Jeffries had personally supported, who retains “a deep well of support among the district’s black and brown communities,” and replacing him with “a conservative politician with a history of racist comments and governance.”
Bowman, a black former high school principal who has been an outspoken critic of Israeli behavior in Gaza, lost to challenger George Latimer by a wide margin of 58% to 42% of the vote. The race was called within an hour of the polls closing.
Bowman was endorsed during his campaign by heavyweight party progressives, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Vermont senator Bernie Sanderswho called the race “one of the most important in the modern history of America.”
Sanders said in a statement after Bowman’s loss that it was “a shame and an insult to democracy that we are perpetuating a corrupt campaign finance system that allows billionaire-funded Super Pacs to buy elections.”
“Aipac and other Super Pacs spent more than $23 million to defeat Bowman. He spent $3 million. That’s a spending gap that’s virtually impossible to close,” he said, adding: “It’s no coincidence that with our corrupt campaign finance system, we also have a rigged economy that allows the very rich to get much richer, while many work people are falling further and further behind. Big Money buys politicians who will do their bidding, and the results are clear.”
Progressives like Sanders sought to characterize the race as an example of the influence of big money in politics after pro-Israel groups and some wealthy residents of New York’s suburbs weighed their checkbooks.
The progressive groups said Aipac had “turned the NY16 race into the most expensive Democratic primary in history, launching an unacceptable attack on our democracy, our communities and our shared future” and called on Jeffries to take action against “destructive actions in your country”. own backyard”.
Related: Pro-Israel groups plan to spend millions on US elections
Jeffries, like most of the Democratic leadership team in the House of Representatives, has received the support of Aipac. The progressive groups demanded that he refuse financial support from the pro-Israel lobby group to protest Bowman’s defeat.
Protect Our Power said in a statement that Bowman’s defeat was a “loss for young people and all who care about our continued movement toward justice, peace and building a multiracial democracy.”
The progressive group blamed “Aipac and the Maga billionaires who recruited and funded George Latimer’s campaign from start to finish” for the defeat, and vowed to “tell Aipac they don’t want to divide our democracy.”
In a separate letter of protest, Jewish Voice for Peace Action said it was “saddened” by the results, which toppled a congressman who was “one of the few members of Congress committed to defending Palestinian human rights.”
“Today is a sad day for American democracy,” said Beth Miller, JVP political director. “To protect progressive candidates, it is essential that Democrats reject Aipac,” she added.
Bob Herbst, a member of the group and member of NY-16, called Aipac’s multimillion-dollar spending in the district “a dangerous interference in our democracy.”
The race was seen as a crucial test of Democratic party unity on an issue that threatens to divide traditionally Democratic-voting Jewish Americans from the party in the wake of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which killed nearly 1,200 people. lives, and a nine-month attack on Israel. An Israeli counterattack has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians and forced hundreds of thousands of others to starve to death.
Related: The Aipac-funded candidate defeated Jamaal Bowman. But at what price? | Ben Davis
Bowman claimed that the results would show “Aipac the power of the damn South Bronx,” although the Aipac campaign focused mainly on Bowman’s weaknesses in general and not specifically or exclusively on his position on Israel. A UDP attack ad against Bowman specifically voiced his opposition to the bipartisan infrastructure bill and debt ceiling deal, accusing the congressman of abandoning his constituents.
“Jamaal Bowman has his own agenda and refuses to compromise, even with President Biden,” says the ad’s narrator. “Jamaal Bowman has his own agenda, and it is hurting New York.”
Nevertheless, Aipac is using Latimer’s victory to argue that Bowman’s stance on Israel is the reason he lost.
“This race presented a clear choice – between George Latimer, who reflects the views of the Democratic mainstream in his congressional district and across the country, and his opponent who aligns with the extremist, anti-Israel fringe,” an Aipac spokesperson said , Marshall Wittmann. told Axios.
Bowman was no stranger to scandal during his time in office. In December 2023, he became the 27th House member in history to be censured after pulling a fire alarm on his way to vote on an emergency bill. He was also associated with problematic blog posts that advanced unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The messages, which Bowman said were from more than a decade ago, were unearthed by the Daily Beast earlier this year and the former congressman has since said he regrets them.
Bowman’s opponent Latimer offered a more measured approach in a district with a large number of Jewish American voters.
After Latimer accepted his victory Tuesday night, he told supporters: “We must fight to ensure that we do not slander each other, that we remember that we are all Americans and that our common future is linked.”
Joanie Greve contributed to the reporting
