Westchester County Executive George Latimer on Wednesday officially launched his Democratic primary challenge against Rep. Jamaal Bowman with a video contending that the second term congressman hasn’t done enough for the suburban New York City district.
Latimer, as expected, attacked Bowman for his pro-Palestinian positions and his focus on “rhetoric” rather than “results.”
“We’re all fed up with the chaos and the dysfunction down in Washington where nothing ever seems to get done,” Latimer said in a video that mixed videos of Bowman with ones of Republicans such as Marjorie Taylor Greene. “Because up here, from Westchester to the Bronx, we do things differently. We work together and we get results.”
Latimer included a clip of Bowman voting against a resolution to condemn Hamas. And he attacked his opponent for voting against President Joe Biden’s 2021 infrastructure bill.
“Instead of helping our communities with flooding and infrastructure, he put his own personal politics ahead of progress,” the county executive says. “One of six Democrats to vote against it, just to stick it to our Democratic president.”
The launch video officially kicks off what is expected to be one of the country’s most contentious primaries in 2024. The vote is currently scheduled to be held in June, barring any complications arising from the ongoing legal battle over New York’s congressional district lines.
His supporters have attacked Latimer for the support he has received from AIPAC, which has also helped raise money for Republican congressional candidates who are supportive of Israel.
Emma Simon, a spokesperson for Bowman’s campaign, said it’s focused is on winning reelection and to “deliver” for the 16th District. She knocked AIPAC’s involvement.
“Congressman Bowman’s focus remains first and foremost on delivering for the people of his district and standing up to powerful special interests in Congress,” Simon said in a statement.
“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 mega-donors who give millions to election-denying Republicans including Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and Ted Cruz, has recruited a candidate for this race.”
