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| Bowman Is Latest House Democrat to Face a Primary Over Israel Stance | Bowman Is Latest House Democrat to Face a Primary Over Israel Stance |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| After months of public deliberation and prodding from donors aligned with Israel, George Latimer, the Westchester County executive, said on Wednesday that he would mount a Democratic primary challenge against Representative Jamaal Bowman of New York. | After months of public deliberation and prodding from donors aligned with Israel, George Latimer, the Westchester County executive, said on Wednesday that he would mount a Democratic primary challenge against Representative Jamaal Bowman of New York. |
| The decision set the stage for a potentially explosive contest next year that promises to test not only the growing Democratic divide over the war in the Middle East but the durability of the party’s progressive wing. | The decision set the stage for a potentially explosive contest next year that promises to test not only the growing Democratic divide over the war in the Middle East but the durability of the party’s progressive wing. |
| In an interview, Mr. Latimer drew sharp contrasts between himself and Mr. Bowman, one of the left’s most vocal critics of Israel. He dismissed the incumbent’s calls for a cease-fire as premature and called a recent protest outside the White House, where the congressman accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, a political stunt. | In an interview, Mr. Latimer drew sharp contrasts between himself and Mr. Bowman, one of the left’s most vocal critics of Israel. He dismissed the incumbent’s calls for a cease-fire as premature and called a recent protest outside the White House, where the congressman accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, a political stunt. |
| “It’s about results, not rhetoric,” said Mr. Latimer, who has deep ties to the Democratic establishment. “So much of politics has turned into that sort of showmanship — how you look in front of the cameras.” | “It’s about results, not rhetoric,” said Mr. Latimer, who has deep ties to the Democratic establishment. “So much of politics has turned into that sort of showmanship — how you look in front of the cameras.” |
| The nascent contest echoes primary fights breaking out from Pittsburgh to Detroit since Hamas’s deadly Oct. 7 attack, as pro-Israel Democrats try to oust members of the House “Squad” pushing for a cease-fire. Like the other challengers, Mr. Latimer is expected to benefit from millions of dollars in outside spending by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, and other special interest groups. | The nascent contest echoes primary fights breaking out from Pittsburgh to Detroit since Hamas’s deadly Oct. 7 attack, as pro-Israel Democrats try to oust members of the House “Squad” pushing for a cease-fire. Like the other challengers, Mr. Latimer is expected to benefit from millions of dollars in outside spending by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, and other special interest groups. |
| The race in the New York City suburbs, though, may prove the most significant. It pits a charismatic Black progressive with a growing national profile against an old-school white liberal with a decades-long political winning streak. And it will play out in a district that is both home to one of the country’s most influential Jewish communities and is also nearly half Black and Latino. | The race in the New York City suburbs, though, may prove the most significant. It pits a charismatic Black progressive with a growing national profile against an old-school white liberal with a decades-long political winning streak. And it will play out in a district that is both home to one of the country’s most influential Jewish communities and is also nearly half Black and Latino. |
| Mr. Latimer stepped carefully around many of those fault lines as he outlined his candidacy this week, insisting that his campaign would go well beyond the issue of Israel. | Mr. Latimer stepped carefully around many of those fault lines as he outlined his candidacy this week, insisting that his campaign would go well beyond the issue of Israel. |
| The Democrat, in his second term as county executive, urged voters not to judge him on his age, 70, or the color of his skin. He said that if elected, he would prioritize many of the progressive stances on housing, climate change and transportation that Mr. Bowman has championed. And he avoided outright attacks beyond charging that Mr. Bowman was more interested in making his name than in tending to his district. | The Democrat, in his second term as county executive, urged voters not to judge him on his age, 70, or the color of his skin. He said that if elected, he would prioritize many of the progressive stances on housing, climate change and transportation that Mr. Bowman has championed. And he avoided outright attacks beyond charging that Mr. Bowman was more interested in making his name than in tending to his district. |
| “If you ignore that turf because you’re a national figure and more interested in being on the national stage, then you are neglecting the needs of that community,” Mr. Latimer said. | “If you ignore that turf because you’re a national figure and more interested in being on the national stage, then you are neglecting the needs of that community,” Mr. Latimer said. |
| The challenge comes at a moment of profound political vulnerability for Mr. Bowman, 47, and not just because of his stance on the war. The congressman has just $185,000 in his campaign account, according to recent filings. | The challenge comes at a moment of profound political vulnerability for Mr. Bowman, 47, and not just because of his stance on the war. The congressman has just $185,000 in his campaign account, according to recent filings. |
| And in Washington on Wednesday, he was confronted by a fresh Republican push to censure him for pulling a fire alarm in a House office building in October, an episode that has already resulted in a guilty plea and a fine. | And in Washington on Wednesday, he was confronted by a fresh Republican push to censure him for pulling a fire alarm in a House office building in October, an episode that has already resulted in a guilty plea and a fine. |
| Still, it was clear that the polarizing conflict between Israel and Hamas would set the tone for the race. Mr. Latimer announced his candidacy just days after he returned from a wartime visit to the region, and his official video announcement heavily featured the issue. | Still, it was clear that the polarizing conflict between Israel and Hamas would set the tone for the race. Mr. Latimer announced his candidacy just days after he returned from a wartime visit to the region, and his official video announcement heavily featured the issue. |
| AIPAC, which privately offered Mr. Latimer its support months ago, has not detailed its spending plans. But Marshall Wittmann, a spokesman for the group, denounced Mr. Bowman as a representative of “the anti-Israel extremist fringe.” | AIPAC, which privately offered Mr. Latimer its support months ago, has not detailed its spending plans. But Marshall Wittmann, a spokesman for the group, denounced Mr. Bowman as a representative of “the anti-Israel extremist fringe.” |
| Mr. Bowman’s advisers and allies say defeating him could be far more difficult than his foes anticipate. Some of the left’s most influential figures were already lining up to fight back, determined to show the staying power of their movement three years after they first helped Mr. Bowman, a former middle school principal, topple a powerful three-decade incumbent, Eliot L. Engel. | Mr. Bowman’s advisers and allies say defeating him could be far more difficult than his foes anticipate. Some of the left’s most influential figures were already lining up to fight back, determined to show the staying power of their movement three years after they first helped Mr. Bowman, a former middle school principal, topple a powerful three-decade incumbent, Eliot L. Engel. |
| Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Mr. Bowman’s best-known ally, circulated a fund-raising appeal on his behalf. New York’s Working Families Party and Justice Democrats have pledged resources, and Mr. Bowman could also get backup from J Street, a pro-Israel liberal counterweight to AIPAC that has endorsed him. | Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Mr. Bowman’s best-known ally, circulated a fund-raising appeal on his behalf. New York’s Working Families Party and Justice Democrats have pledged resources, and Mr. Bowman could also get backup from J Street, a pro-Israel liberal counterweight to AIPAC that has endorsed him. |
| “It’s not a surprise that a super PAC that routinely targets Black members of Congress with primary challenges and is funded by the same Republican megadonors who give millions to election-denying Republicans including Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis and Ted Cruz have recruited a candidate for this race,” Emma Simon, a spokeswoman for Mr. Bowman’s campaign, said, referring to AIPAC. | “It’s not a surprise that a super PAC that routinely targets Black members of Congress with primary challenges and is funded by the same Republican megadonors who give millions to election-denying Republicans including Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis and Ted Cruz have recruited a candidate for this race,” Emma Simon, a spokeswoman for Mr. Bowman’s campaign, said, referring to AIPAC. |
| The primary battle is one Democrats had hoped to avoid. The party is focused on flipping six Republican-held swing seats in New York next year that are key to taking back the House majority. Some Democrats have expressed concern that a pro-Israel advertising blitz against Mr. Bowman would inadvertently tarnish the party’s candidates in competitive races in neighboring districts to the north and west. | The primary battle is one Democrats had hoped to avoid. The party is focused on flipping six Republican-held swing seats in New York next year that are key to taking back the House majority. Some Democrats have expressed concern that a pro-Israel advertising blitz against Mr. Bowman would inadvertently tarnish the party’s candidates in competitive races in neighboring districts to the north and west. |
| Now that the matchup is underway, though, it poses a quandary for senior Democrats, particularly Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, their top House leader. | |
| Justin Chermol, his spokesman, said that Mr. Jeffries “plans to stand behind every single Democratic member of the New York congressional delegation.” But Mr. Latimer said he had not received a call from Mr. Jeffries asking him not to run, and the House leader may soon have to decide how hard to fight to protect Mr. Bowman. | |
| Mr. Bowman has refused to tone down his advocacy despite growing pressure from Jewish constituents and fellow Democrats. | Mr. Bowman has refused to tone down his advocacy despite growing pressure from Jewish constituents and fellow Democrats. |
| His allies argue that there is reason to believe many voters agree with him, but that for many, Israel will not be a decisive issue when they cast primary ballots next June. | His allies argue that there is reason to believe many voters agree with him, but that for many, Israel will not be a decisive issue when they cast primary ballots next June. |
| About half of voters in the district, which stretches from the north Bronx through many of Westchester’s liberal suburbs, are Black or Latino, according to census data. The figure is even higher among Democratic primary voters. By comparison, about 10 percent of all voters in the district and about 20 to 25 percent of Democratic primary voters are Jewish. | About half of voters in the district, which stretches from the north Bronx through many of Westchester’s liberal suburbs, are Black or Latino, according to census data. The figure is even higher among Democratic primary voters. By comparison, about 10 percent of all voters in the district and about 20 to 25 percent of Democratic primary voters are Jewish. |
| Mr. Bowman has repeatedly said he is standing by his position on Israel for a simpler reason: He believes in it. | Mr. Bowman has repeatedly said he is standing by his position on Israel for a simpler reason: He believes in it. |
| He summarized his views outside the White House last week, where he joined protesters calling on President Biden to support a bilateral cease-fire. He used terms that most Democrats have objected to, including “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing,” in describing Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, which has killed some 15,000 people, according to the local health authorities. He accused the United States of being “complicit” in those deaths. But he also condemned those targeting Israelis or Jews and denounced Hamas. | He summarized his views outside the White House last week, where he joined protesters calling on President Biden to support a bilateral cease-fire. He used terms that most Democrats have objected to, including “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing,” in describing Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, which has killed some 15,000 people, according to the local health authorities. He accused the United States of being “complicit” in those deaths. But he also condemned those targeting Israelis or Jews and denounced Hamas. |
| “Calling for cease-fire does not mean we support Hamas, does not mean we support the killing of Israelis or Jews, does not mean we support antisemitism,” he said. “We are calling for cease-fire because we don’t want anyone else to die.” | “Calling for cease-fire does not mean we support Hamas, does not mean we support the killing of Israelis or Jews, does not mean we support antisemitism,” he said. “We are calling for cease-fire because we don’t want anyone else to die.” |
| In the interview, Mr. Latimer said he, too, was eager to see the bloodshed end, but only after Hamas returned the remaining Israeli hostages it abducted on Oct. 7 and agreed “to step aside from violence.” Anything short of that would amount to unilateral disarmament by Israel, he argued. | In the interview, Mr. Latimer said he, too, was eager to see the bloodshed end, but only after Hamas returned the remaining Israeli hostages it abducted on Oct. 7 and agreed “to step aside from violence.” Anything short of that would amount to unilateral disarmament by Israel, he argued. |
| Mr. Latimer said he did not “know enough” to judge whether Israel’s counteroffensive had violated international law. “I’m not a secretary of state,” he said. | Mr. Latimer said he did not “know enough” to judge whether Israel’s counteroffensive had violated international law. “I’m not a secretary of state,” he said. |
| He also rejected Mr. Bowman’s proposal for the United States to place conditions on the billions of dollars in military aid it provides to Israel. “That is a matter that I think is best left to the presidential administration,” Mr. Latimer said. | He also rejected Mr. Bowman’s proposal for the United States to place conditions on the billions of dollars in military aid it provides to Israel. “That is a matter that I think is best left to the presidential administration,” Mr. Latimer said. |
| He was more pointed about attempts to build public pressure on Mr. Biden through protests and media appearances. Mr. Latimer called Mr. Bowman’s appearance outside the White House “the classic response of somebody who has been in government a couple of years.” | He was more pointed about attempts to build public pressure on Mr. Biden through protests and media appearances. Mr. Latimer called Mr. Bowman’s appearance outside the White House “the classic response of somebody who has been in government a couple of years.” |
| “If you want to influence the policy of the president, you begin with the dialogue you have with your other members of the Democratic Caucus,” he said. “When you have a consensus movement, that becomes more impressive to an executive.” | “If you want to influence the policy of the president, you begin with the dialogue you have with your other members of the Democratic Caucus,” he said. “When you have a consensus movement, that becomes more impressive to an executive.” |