Polls open Tuesday at New York’s 16th Congressional Districtwhere Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman is fighting to save his seat against Westchester County Executive George Latimer in a race that has become the focus of Israel and has become the most expensive primary House in history.
“We’re going to win the race on Tuesday,” Bowman told CBS News. “That’s the bottom line. My opponent is unfit for this office.”
The hustling between the campaigns stopped with the entry of members of the “Squad”, progressive lawmakers seeking to fend off a challenge from Latimer in New York’s 16th Congressional District, which spans parts of the Bronx to White Plains.
“I’ve been in tough races before and I’ve never tried to visualize what I’m going to do,” Latimer said in an interview with CBS News. “The way I see it now is that I work hard.”
Latimer entered the race in December 2023, but this month, an Emerson College poll showed him ahead of Bowman 48%-31%, with 21% of voters undecided.
“The polling data is very good, the most recent polling we’ve seen but, you know, the polling data is not the last word,” Latimer said.
The closely watched contest has been contentious from the start as intra-party divisions over the Israel-Hamas war have become a major issue. Latimer has expressed broad support for Israel and visited the country shortly after the October 7 terror attacks and before starting the campaign. Bowman, a vocal critic of Israel’s handling of the war, has opposed US military aid and called for a permanent ceasefire.
“The reason it’s gotten so much attention is because over the years, you know, if you don’t take the quote, unquote, ‘pro-Israel’ side, then you know, people think there’s something wrong with you,” Bowman said. “And we must have an honest conversation. Yes, we must condemn October 7, as we have done, but we must also condemn the collective punishment that is happening in Palestine today.”
“Israel is a country that has a right to exist,” Latimer said. “Ultimately, if there’s going to be peace in the region, there has to be a two-state solution, which includes, you know, the Arab countries next to it. both sides and, you know, frankly, Jamaal has a different stance on this.”
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, and its affiliated group, the United Democracy Project, have spent more than $14.8 million on ads supporting Latimer and criticizing Bowman’s record, according to Ad Impact. Overall, more than $24.8 million has been spent by various groups, making it the most expensive primary House in history.
“George Latimer is not a critical thinker and has a lot of love coming directly from AIPAC, who funded his entire campaign,” said Bowman who claimed his opponent was backed by “MAGA Republicans.”
“To attribute AIPAC as a MAGA-Republican situation is disingenuous about the truth,” Latimer responded. “They are an organization that supports individuals who support Israel and so others who get support from AIPAC are actually no closer to Donald Trump and MAGA than I am. This is an attempt to try to make a mistake with associational donations.”
Fierce divisions have also divided Democratic leadership. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and caucus chairman Pete Aguilar have endorsed Bowman along with fellow progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders and the left-leaning “Squad” including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez who rallied with Bowman in the sweltering heat over the weekend.
“It’s not just a race between two candidates with very different points of view,” Sanders told reporters. “The real race is whether America keeps its democratic traditions. Are we going to allow big money and super PACs to buy elections. It should be a concern for every American no matter what your political point of view if you have an organization that spends $15 million. That’s a problem Is this the future of American politics?
Latimer is endorsed by former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lives in Westchester county. He is also backed by Mondaire Jones, a Bowman ally and former congressman who is running again in a nearby district. On Monday, Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey became the first sitting Democratic member of Congress to throw his support behind a 70-year-old local politician.
“We need more common-sense leaders and problem-solvers in Congress,” Gottheimer posted on social media. “I know George will fight hate in all its forms and stand up for the values we believe in.”
Bowman, 48, who pleaded guilty to falsely pulling the fire alarm in the Capitol office building last year, considered one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents up for reelection and could be a member of the first Squad to lose his seat, if defeated.
“People know me,” said Latimer, who spent more than a decade in the New York state legislature. “I am a politician based on what I have done. And what I have done is progressive.”
“I have served this community for more than ten years, first as a high school principal, now as a member of Congress, focusing on equity, justice and humanity fighting to bring our resources back,” Bowman said. “I’m going to win this race. That’s my number one focus right now.”