George Latimer defeats Rep. Jamaal Bowman in New York House Democratic primary

Progressive Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., lost a primary race to moderate George Latimer, who was supported by pro-Israel groups, exposing divisions within the Democratic Party. The race attracted record ad spending, with Latimer leading by a wide margin. Bowman conceded defeat but vowed to continue fighting for justice and humanity. Bowman, a fierce critic of Israel and a member of the squad, was criticized for various incidents and comments, making him vulnerable. Latimer, who has been in politics for over 35 years, will likely become the representative for New York’s 16th District, a reliably blue area. The race drew support from prominent figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Bowman, while Hillary Clinton and others endorsed Latimer. Jones, a former ally of Bowman, supported Latimer, causing backlash from progressives. Jones won his own primary, setting up a fall matchup with a vulnerable Republican. Ocasio-Cortez also won her primary. The New York primaries also determined matchups in competitive districts, with five Republicans representing districts Biden won in 2020. Democrats need a net gain of five seats to take control of the House. The results in most battlegrounds were not surprising, except for the 1st District where former CNN anchor John Avlon won the Democratic primary. Other matchups were mostly previously anticipated, setting the stage for a contentious general election.

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