ALBANY, New York — In his House primary near New York City, Rep. Jamaal Bowman has placed a significant emphasis on ending the war in Gaza. As an outspoken critic of Israel, he has made this issue a central theme. On the other hand, his opponent, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, enjoys support from pro-Israel groups and has predominantly aligned himself with the country throughout the conflict.
The dynamics of the race are being changed by the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza and events like the killing of World Central Kitchen relief workers. These incidents are putting Democratic support for the Israeli government to the test, even from a staunch supporter.
In an interview with POLITICO, Latimer referred to the tragic deaths of seven aid workers in the bombing as a “horrific incident,” refraining from directly criticizing Israel.
“It’s absolutely terrible what occurred, and it should never have taken place,” he expressed last week. “However, we need to determine whether there was any deliberate intention behind it.”
The international community expressed its condemnation of the latest incident in the ongoing war. This comes in the wake of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s recent disapproval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Latimer continues to maintain strong support for Israel, a stance that has remained unwavering since he began his campaign in New York’s 16th Congressional District. This district comprises a diverse combination of affluent white-collar communities and working-class urban neighborhoods in Westchester and the Bronx.
However, similar to other influential Democrats, Latimer is adapting his language as the conflict persists, raising concerns about the sustainability of maintaining a pro-Israel position in the highly anticipated June 25 primary.
Latimer’s supporters argue that the primary race goes beyond Israel policy alone. They point to Bowman’s vote against an infrastructure spending package and his disruptive act of pulling a fire alarm in a Capitol office building. They contend that voters have already formed their opinions regarding Israel, making it challenging to sway them.
The war and the shifting strategies of the candidates in both public and private spheres highlight the delicate balance that Latimer and Bowman must maintain in the intense intraparty battle within one of the country’s largest Jewish districts. This also presents a potential advantage for Bowman as party leaders start to moderate their backing of Israel.
According to Usamah Andrabi, a spokesperson for the left-leaning activist group Justice Democrats in New York, this situation highlights the increasing divide within the Democratic Party. He believes that this divide is between AIPAC, its Republican donors, and the 100 to 200 Republicans they support, who oppose key Democratic values such as elections and abortion rights.
Latimer, an experienced politician from the suburbs, initially used his primary challenge to highlight the differences between himself and Bowman on the issue of Israel. Before officially launching his anticipated campaign for the Democratic nomination, he visited the country in response to the October 7 Hamas attack.
And before his thoughtful comments this week, he has not indicated any intention to soften his position, even as influential Democrats from various ideological backgrounds, including Schumer and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have become more confident in their criticism of the Israeli government’s conduct during the war.
Latimer has garnered financial support from prominent pro-Israel organizations, including AIPAC, and has been endorsed by the Democratic Majority for Israel political action committee.
David Weprin, a state assemblymember from Brooklyn and a supporter of Latimer, emphasized that Latimer’s unwavering support for the country is the primary reason why he is receiving significant backing from the pro-Israel community.
According to Weprin, he believes that the individual in question has remained consistent in their stance. He acknowledges that the concern for innocent lives is shared by everyone. However, he emphasizes that the facts remain unchanged – Israel was attacked and is now defending itself. Weprin asserts that Israel is taking all necessary measures to eliminate the threat posed by Hamas.
According to Bowman and his supporters, the evolving perspectives on the war within the party indicate that his left-leaning stance on Israel is becoming more widely accepted. Bowman and his campaign view the support received by Latimer from pro-Israel organizations as a drawback, as they accuse him of aligning more with Republicans than with key Democrats.
Fellow Squad member Ocasio-Cortez leveled the accusation of genocide against Israeli leaders, a criticism that Bowman also shares.
Schumer’s shocking criticism of Netanyahu and his call for new elections have caused a major upheaval in the primary. Bowman, a fellow New Yorker, fully embraced the rebuke of the Netanyahu-led government by America’s highest-ranking Jewish elected official.
Bowman has embraced the speech as a signal that he aligns more closely with the prevailing sentiment among Democratic voters, who believe that the war must come to an end.
In a recent interview with POLITICO, Bowman expressed his alignment with their constituents, stating, “Senator Schumer is also aligned with our constituents. And that’s the truth of the matter.”
Schumer’s office declined to comment on the matter.
Latimer has refrained from commenting on Schumer’s address, highlighting the rapidly changing public opinion regarding the war.
“I have no intention of contributing to any further division between the two sides if our aim is to achieve peace,” Latimer emphasized. “However, I understand that this process may take longer than the duration of my lifetime.”
Latimer’s position hasn’t caused any conflict with AIPAC’s response to Schumer’s speech, which was characterized as low-key but crucial.
AIPAC spokesperson Marshall Wittmann made it clear that they fully endorse and support George Latimer. However, Wittmann did not address the issue of whether AIPAC can continue to endorse candidates who share Schumer’s stance.
According to Latimer, he strongly disagrees with Bowman’s views and those of his left-leaning allies on Israel, stating that they are out of touch with the district.
According to Latimer, there are certain individuals, like The Squad, who consider themselves to be hostile towards Israel. These individuals have expressed extreme views, such as advocating for a “free Palestine, river to the sea.” Latimer believes that while these individuals may identify as Democrats, their perspective is not representative of the mainstream.
New York Democrats have long been known for their unwavering support of Israel. Governor Kathy Hochul wasted no time in showing her solidarity with Israel by traveling there shortly after the Hamas attack. Representative Ritchie Torres, hailing from the Bronx, has also lauded Israel as a shining example of a tolerant liberal democracy.
The Democratic Party, both in New York and on a national level, has seen a rise in a progressive faction that is becoming increasingly critical. Jamaal Bowman is one of the members aligned with this more left-leaning wing. In contrast, moderate Democrats sought to have Latimer as their candidate due to his impressive track record of never losing an election.
Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf believes that the current political landscape can be characterized as a battle between the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the regular Democratic Party. He sees it as a clash between those who support law enforcement and those who are critical of it, as well as a conflict between the far left and the more moderate center.
However, even in New York, opinions about Israel are changing.
According to a statewide Siena College poll conducted in February, there was a nearly even divide among Democratic voters regarding the provision of additional military and economic aid to Israel, with 44 percent expressing support. However, in October, following the attack, the poll revealed that 57 percent of Democrats were in favor of providing aid to Israel.
Bowman, who was elected in 2022, has consistently expressed his concerns about the devastating effects of the war on the innocent civilians residing in Gaza.
Bowman and his allies have also emphasized the backing that Latimer has garnered in the election from AIPAC, a prominent pro-Israel organization. AIPAC is investing a substantial $100 million in races this year with the aim of defeating candidates who lean towards the left or do not strongly support Israel.
According to federal election filings, the group has donated over $600,000 to Latimer’s campaign as of February.
During the interview, Bowman directly accused Latimer of being “a tool of AIPAC.”
“My opponent has chosen to associate himself with wealthy GOP donors instead of aligning with the Senate majority leader from New York, who holds a significant position in our party within the United States Senate. It appears that my opponent has made this decision,” expressed Bowman.
Candidates walk a fine line in their pursuit of success.
Bowman, the winner of the Democratic primary against Rep. Eliot Engel in 2020, had to retract his previous remarks. He had initially expressed skepticism about reports of Israeli women being raped during the attack by Hamas. However, he later acknowledged that sexual violence did occur and condemned it wholeheartedly.
Despite his opponent’s missteps, Latimer believes that the outcome of the race will not be solely determined by Israel. According to Latimer supporters, Bowman has accumulated a record that they anticipate will be at odds with voters.
Assemblymember Amy Paulin, who supports Latimer, believes that voters will take into account both Bowman’s voting record and his level of presence in the district, which she argues has been lacking.
According to Paulin, George may not be seen as perfect in the eyes of some people, but he is definitely a much better choice than the congressman who has been showing anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiments.
