Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), a member of the far-left “Squad,” is on track to suffer a significant defeat in the upcoming June 25 New York Democratic primary.
According to a recent Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey, Westchester County Executive George Latimer has garnered 48% of Democratic primary voters’ support, while Bowman, a two-term incumbent, has managed to secure only 31%. Additionally, 21% of respondents in the 16th Congressional District, which includes much of Westchester County and parts of the north Bronx, remain undecided.
Last year, Bowman was caught on camera setting off a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building to delay a House vote on a stopgap resolution to avert a government shutdown. Despite claiming it was an accident, Bowman pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges related to the incident. Although he technically violated federal law by obstructing an official proceeding, he received a mere slap on the wrist. The House Ethics Committee chose not to investigate the matter, which is utterly absurd.
However, it’s not just the embarrassment of having a congressman who seemingly doesn’t know what a fire alarm looks like that is hurting him. According to a report from the New York Post, Bowman’s stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict is significantly damaging his reelection bid.
The survey indicated that the Israel-Hamas war is playing a crucial role in the race. Latimer, 70, has firmly supported Israel in the ongoing conflict, while Bowman, 48, was captured on video in November calling Israel an “apartheid” state and dismissing reports of rapes and child murders by Hamas during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel as “lies.” He later retracted his statement, which was rightly criticized as Hamas propaganda.
The survey revealed that 45% of voters align more with Latimer on the war, while only 29% side with Bowman, and 26% are unsure. Regardless of their stance on Israel, more people want to see an end to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. A plurality of Democratic primary voters — 43% — are less likely to support a member of Congress who opposes a cease-fire in Gaza, while 37% are more inclined to back a candidate who is against one. The remaining 20% had no opinion.
Furthermore, 50% of Democratic primary voters believe the US government is spending too much on aid to Israel in the war with Hamas, while a third think the Biden administration is spending the right amount, and 17% think the country is spending too little. Regarding humanitarian relief to Palestinians in Gaza, 46% believe the US is spending too little, 34% the right amount, and 21% too much.
Latimer is considered a moderate Democrat with a long history in Westchester politics and is generally more favored than Bowman, whose antisemitic views have been evident since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Bowman is also backed by the Democratic Socialists of America.
The poll shows that 65% of voters view Latimer favorably, while only 23% view him unfavorably, with 12% undecided. In contrast, 51% have a favorable view of Bowman, while 43% view him unfavorably, and 6% are not familiar with him. Latimer leads significantly among white voters by 42 points, with 62% to Bowman’s 20%.
The U.S. Congress could certainly benefit from having fewer antisemitic socialists. Bowman’s defeat would be a step in the right direction.
