On Monday, October 8th, eight progressive groups in Westchester County and the Hudson Valley—including NYCD16 Indivisible, Concerned Families of Westchester, For the Many, New York Communities for Change, and Food & Water Action—sent a letter to Westchester County Executive George Latimer, urging him to prioritize building Democratic power in Westchester over a possible primary against incumbent Democratic representative Jamaal Bowman in the 16th Congressional District.
“We respect the work you have done, but we believe that a primary challenge in New York’s 16th district would divide and hurt Democrats and organizers who must dedicate limited resources to flipping red seats in this state. Democrats must be united in the face of the election of a far-right MAGA Speaker of the House. Your candidacy would serve to undermine a progressive champion who has time and again fought for working New Yorkers, prioritized the needs of his district, and handily won the last two primaries for federal office.” (You can read the full letter below).
This letter comes on the heels of a letter addressed by the Anti-Racist Alliance a week earlier, expressing deep reservations about CE Latimer’s potential run for Congress in District 16 (DC16), urging him to seek another political path to avoid potential division among progressives.
Dear George Latimer,
We the undersigned organizations strongly urge you to not to stage a primary challenge against Representative Jamaal Bowman. Our country and the world are in a very precarious state right now. We must address myriad crises in the United States, including climate change, combating homelessness, ending gun violence, promoting universal health care and standing up for working families still recovering from the economic impacts of the COVID epidemic. Jamaal Bowman has been an advocate for all of these causes and more, both in-state and in the halls of Congress.We respect the work you have done, but we believe that a primary challenge in New York’s 16th district would divide and hurt Democrats and organizers who must dedicate limited resources to flipping red seats in this state. Democrats must be united in the face of the election of a far-right, MAGA Speaker of the House. Your candidacy would serve to undermine a progressive champion who has time and again fought for working New Yorkers, prioritized the needs of his district, and handily won the last two primaries for federal office.
The entire county looks to you to uphold our Democratic values and ensure we continue winning and implementing progressive policies that protect all New Yorkers. We simply Cannot afford the divisiveness and resource drain a primary election would bring at this time. We urge you to consider other political avenues at the end of your final term as county executive.
While chaos ensues in other areas of the globe, we know our state and county can lead the charge on so many issues to improve the lives of all of us. We hope you seriously consider our request not to run for Congress in New York’s 16th district and look forward to working with you as county executive for a progressive future for all New Yorkers.
Sincerely,
NYCD16 Indivisible
Concerned Families of Westchester
For the Many
New York Communities for Change
New York Progressive Action Network
Food & Water Action
United for Clean Energy
Young Democratic Socialists of America, New Castle & Mount Kisco Chapter
In late September, Black Westchester reported that Latimer had reportedly been approached by Democratic donors, Police Unions, and Jewish Groups about primarying Rep. Jamaal Bowman in the 16th Congressional District, after a report by News 12’s Tara Rosenblum.
On Wednesday, October 8th Rosenblum reported, “After months of speculation, Westchester County Executive George Latimer has reportedly made the decision to run in a Democratic primary against Rep. Jamaal Bowman.” According to Roseblum, Latimer is expected to make his official announcement in the next few weeks.
Anyway, as you slice it, this will be a heavily watched election. Both candidates are known to take a punch and are dominant counterpunchers. As of right now, this is all speculation since Latimer hasn’t officially announced, but it would be a great fight. In the potential match-up, who will be the last man standing?
Love AJ the Great One! I’ve learned through Biden’s administration that being a Democrat and black is all of the problem. I was raised conservative by conservative parents who for some reason always voted Left. Left always seems to point to the people of color as the victims, and mind screw you into thinking the government got your back. Im a Libertarian so I know better. I’m heavy Trump supporter now! MAGA or suffer! Black democrats need to stop claiming blackness on paper when it holds no weight in law. Claim your nation and stop trying to make up separate shit for blacks to be further segregated from claiming their own land/position. We as blacks, have limited patience, control of our emotions, and vote predominantly with or hearts and don’t really care about the policies. We loose by voting from our hearts. The world doesn’t care about how you (in general) feel, and neither do I.