In a groundbreaking victory, Jamaal Bowman made history in 2020 by becoming the first Black congressman to represent New York’s 16th Congressional District. However, his progressive stance on issues such as calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, abortion rights, and gun violence prevention has put him in the crosshairs of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The powerful lobbying group, known for its bipartisan support for Israel, has now sparked outrage among progressives due to its controversial practice of funneling money from Republican donors into Democratic primary races.

Having the first Black congressman represent their district has significantly boosted the confidence and sense of empowerment within the Black community by providing long-awaited representation and a direct voice advocating for their interests at the federal level. This historic achievement symbolizes the breaking of a racial barrier, demonstrating that Black candidates can attain high political office and inspiring confidence among Black constituents, especially the youth, about their own leadership potential.

With a representative who shares their racial identity and understands the unique challenges the Black community faces, there is greater trust and assurance that their concerns will be genuinely prioritized. The presence of a Black congressman can galvanize the Black community, fostering a collective sense of empowerment, increased political engagement, and belief in their ability to influence the political process.

Furthermore, Congressman Jamaal Bowman’s leadership serves as a visible role model, instilling confidence among Black youth about their prospects for success and encouraging their civic participation, ultimately bolstering the community’s pride, engagement, and optimism. But all that will be taken away because he speaks for truth, justice, and equality for all. Organizations like AIPAC resist that type of talk in the halls of Congress.

AIPAC appears willing to spend millions of dollars to unseat Bowman, having already raised more than $1.6 million for his challenger, George Latimer, through the end of April. Notably, around 40 percent of these donors had previously contributed to Republican candidates through AIPAC or WinRed, compared to just 10 percent of Latimer’s non-AIPAC donors. This has led many Black grassroots organizations to accuse AIPAC and its Republican megadonors of targeting him for his progressive positions, which he claims stand against “Donald Trump’s MAGA extremism.”

It has already been reported that AIPAC and its Republican donors are intentionally targeting progressive members of the Congressional Black Caucus with right-wing primary challenges. If this process is allowed to continue having Black and Brown representatives will be a thing of the past.

The controversy has intensified as AIPAC’s affiliated super PAC, United Democracy Project (UDP), has emerged as the biggest outside spender in Democratic primaries this year. UDP has spent a staggering $19.8 million, with $9.3 million alone being poured into the Bowman- Latimer race. This spending far exceeds that of the next 10 biggest spenders combined, highlighting the unprecedented lengths AIPAC is willing to go to influence the outcome of this historic congressional seat.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s super PAC, the United Democracy Project (UDP), has booked $1.9 million in TV ads to influence voters in the high-profile Democratic primary race in New York’s Sixteenth Congressional District, according to the media-tracking firm AdImpact.

Progressives argue that AIPAC’s involvement in Democratic primaries is a form of Republican meddling designed to oust progressives who have been vocal supporters of Palestinian rights and align with a broader progressive agenda. They accuse AIPAC of using the Israel-Palestine issue to attract Republican dollars and undermine the progressive movement, particularly targeting the first Black congressman to represent the district.

The controversy highlights the evolving partisan dynamics around support for Israel, with many Democrats, including establishment figures, now advocating for conditional U.S. aid amid rising civilian casualties in Gaza. A recent poll found that most voters in New York’s 16th Congressional District were more inclined to back a candidate who favored a ceasefire in Gaza, like Congressman Bowman – further underscoring the shifting political landscape on this issue. The growing calls for a reassessment of the U.S. stance toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict reflect a broader realignment within the Democratic Party, as it grapples with changing sentiments among its base.

The race for New York’s 16th Congressional District has taken on heightened significance, with progressives fiercely backing incumbent Jamaal Bowman in a bid to solidify his groundbreaking 2020 win and the principles he espouses. The results of this contest could reverberate beyond the district itself, potentially shaping the trajectory of the Westchester Democratic Party – particularly its posture on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its attunement to the concerns and priorities of Black constituents within the party ranks.

WORKING FAMILIES PARTY ALSO PULLS ITS FUNDING AND SUPPORT OF MONDAIRE JONES AND THE HITS KEEP COMING

Its been a rough week for former congressman Mondaire Jones who inserted himself into the contentious New York 16th Congressional District race by endorsing Westchester County executive George Latimer, the AIPAC-backed challenger over incumbent congressman Jamaal Bowman. In the process, Jones has provoked the displeasure of his former progressive colleagues in the House.

First he had his Black Card revoked by key members of The Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) the highest ranking African American woman appointed to Democratic Leadership, serving as Co-Chair of the Policy and Steering Committee and former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (111th Congress) and co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (109th & 110th Congresses), Rep Summer Lee (D-PA) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.).

“He positioned himself as Squad-adjacent during his time in Congress,” Rep. Cori Bush, a member of the progressive caucus who hails from Missouri, said in an interview. “And then now, when it is beneficial to him, he will go against someone who actually was there for him.”

Other progressives rallied in support around Bowman this week, including fellow New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D), who said “Dem unity means supporting Bowman.” Now the Congressional Progressive is taking back their endorsement of Jones.

“A number of factors led to the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC rescinding the endorsement of Mondaire Jones,” Evan Brown, the PAC’s executive director, said in a statement. “This was a unanimous decision of our PAC board.”

The CPC said Thursday, June 6th, it has rescinded its endorsement of former Rep. Mondaire Jones, D-N.Y., after he endorsed the primary challenger to a top Progressive Caucus member and fellow Black New York Democrat, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, over Bowman’s criticism of Israel.

Wednesday, June 5th, the CPC PAC notified the Mondaire for Congress campaign that it has rescinded its endorsement due to Jones’ endorsement of Latimer over Bowman.

The NY-17 Democratic congressional candidate tells Black Westchester: “I have no regrets about standing up for what I firmly believe in. I have known and worked with George Latimer for years. I used to represent thousands of people in what is now New York’s 16th Congressional District, and have deep relationships there.”

Earlier this week, Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., hinted at the move, calling Jones’ decision to back his former colleague’s rival “horrific.”

“Honestly, I’m just so disgusted by it,” she told NBC News. “This is a former colleague of his, an incumbent member who is a top-priority candidate for us, an incumbent for us in the Progressive Caucus.”
Jayapal said she believes Jones endorsed Latimer “because he thinks it’s obviously politically expedient, but I don’t, and it’s not the way we operate as progressives.”

“We can’t be inconsistent where we have a top-priority incumbent that we’re spending money on, and one of our candidates … who is attacking that person,” she continued. “So we stand firmly behind Jamaal Bowman; we’re going to do everything we can to help Jamaal win. And I hope we have Jamaal back in Congress.”

Latimer has the support of 12 Democratic county committees, former governor David Paterson, the Civil Service Employees Association, and former representative Eliot Engel, whom Bowman unseated during his first bid for Congress. Bowman has been backed by Democratic leadership in the chamber, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Representative Nydia Velázquez, Senator Bernie Sanders, the United Auto Workers, and the Working Families Party, which seems unconcerned by Jones’s snub of the congressman.
“We don’t give much weight to the endorsement. Voters know that Jamaal shows up for his district, and has since his days as a principal and teacher,” said Ravi Mangla, a spokesman for the Working Families Party, in a statement.

The influential New York Working Families Party is also pulling its funding and ground support for Democrat Mondaire Jones after he threw his fellow Democrat Jamaal Bowman under the political bus this week by endorsing his opponent in a tough Congressional primary. it was all good just a week ago!

If the CPC un-endorsed Jones for supporting Latimer, they are sending a clear message to CE Latimer that they do not consider him the progressive he touts himself to be. In the words of Kendrick Lamar, the CPC is saying “They Not Like Us.”

Jews for Jamaal react to Mondaire Jones endorsement of George Latimer

In response to the news that former Member of Congress Mondaire Jones endorsed George Latimer in the NY-16 primary “to stand up for my Jewish constituents,” Jews for Jamaal released the following statement from Ron Lieberman, a Jewish resident of Piermont, NY: 

“My wife and I were initially thrilled to have someone like Mondaire Jones to support for Congress. But as proud Jews, we are deeply disappointed that he would go out of his way to endorse George Latimer, whose campaign is being funded by MAGA donors and the pro-war lobby AIPAC, the same people supporting Mike Lawler. I was shocked to learn that Mondaire Jones himself has received over $200,000 from AIPAC throughout his career. And I find it deeply offensive that Jones claimed to be doing this for his Jewish constituents – this move reeks of opportunism.”

On the point about Republican money, the Jews for Jamaal coalition added:

“As a diverse coalition of New York Jews, we reject continued use of Republican money to interfere with Democratic Party primaries with the aim of unseating a popular progressive Black Democrat. As a Congressmember, Jamaal Bowman has a solid track record delivering for this district which is precisely why Republicans are choosing not to fight for votes in the general election with ideas, but in our own party’s primaries with their own agenda. We know that when the organized money doubles up on antidemocratic tactics, organized people will double down on our grassroots support.”

Progressive Senator Is Latest Addition to Broad Democratic Coalition Backing Congressman Bowman’s Re-election

MOUNT VERNON — Senator Elizabeth Warren today announced her endorsement of Congressman Bowman’s re-election campaign, adding to a strong Democratic coalition that already includes key community, state, and national leaders like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senator Bernie Sanders, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, UAW, 1199 SEIU, DC37, and more.

“Corporate interests are spending millions against Congressman Jamaal Bowman because he’s fighting hard to deliver good jobs, quality education, Medicare for All, and a Green New Deal,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “Together, we’ve worked with President Biden to protect renters and have plans to lower housing costs, and I look forward to continued partnership, shoulder-shoulder, to stand up to MAGA extremists and deliver for working families.”

Senator Warren and Congressman Bowman have a long history of joining forces to push for progressive legislative efforts – since her first endorsement in his first primary in 2020. During Congressman Bowman’s first term, Senator Warren and Congressman Bowman co-introduced the Care For All Agenda, which calls for expanding and strengthening the care economy and improving conditions for care workers nationwide. In the Congressman’s second term, the legislators co-authored the bicameral Babies Over Billionaires Act, which would implement a tax on households making over $100 million annually, and invest this revenue in programs that support children. Last year, Congressman Bowman and Senator Warren wrote to President Biden to take executive action on the affordable housing crisis. Just weeks later the President took action to protect tenants’ rights and introduced a Renters Bill of Rights. Most recently, Senator Warren and Congressman Bowman co-led a successful letter urging Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas to lengthen the automatic extension period for work permits, resulting in over 800,000 immigrants retaining their jobs and immigration status.

“From demanding billionaires pay their fair share with the support of President Biden to our shared efforts to make housing affordable, protect tenants, and cancel student debt, I’m proud to call Senator Warren a partner in our progressive vision. She knows firsthand how to fight back against the billionaire class, and I’m proud to have Senator Warren in our corner,” said Congressman Jamaal Bowman. “Together, we’re united in our mission to build a brighter, more equitable future for all, where the needs of working people are uplifted and corporations are held to account.”

Asthe June 25 primary draws closer, the coalition supporting Bowman has grown daily, mobilizing the campaign to increase its ability to connect with voters, and empowering community members to speak with more and more fellow voters. In just the first week of June so far, Bowman supporters have quadrupled their average weekly number of doors knocked compared to May, and the campaign has received over 500 unique sign ups for events.

Congressman Jamaal Bowman’s campaign for re-election has been endorsed by Democratic leadership, members of Congress, and local electeds including Senator Bernie Sanders, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, House Minority Whip Katherine Clarke, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Congresswoman Cori Bush, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Congresswoman Summer Lee, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, New York City Councilmember Kevin Riley, Mount Vernon City Councilmember Derrick Thompson, Hastings-on-Hudson Mayor Nicola Armacost, Hastings-on-Hudson Trustee Georgia Lopez, Hastings-on-Hudson Trustee Douglass Alligood, Mamaroneck Trustee Leilani Yizar Reid, and Mamaroneck Trustee Manny Rawlings. Bowman has also been endorsed by organizations across issue areas including 350 Action, 504 Dems, Alliance for Quality Education, Bend The Arc Jewish Action, Congressional Black Caucus PAC, Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) SEIU, Citizen Action of NY, College Democrats, DC37, Friends of the Earth Action, Human Rights Campaign PAC, IfNotNow, Indivisible Brooklyn, Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Justice Democrats, League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, Make the Road Action, Muslim Democratic Club of NY, National Nurses United, New York Communities for Change, New York Progressive Action Network (NYPAN), New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), Our Revolution, People’s Action, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, SEIU 1199, Sierra Club Independent Action, Sunrise Movement, Teachers Unify To End Gun Violence, The Jewish Vote, UAW Region 9A, and the Working Families Party.