A progressive pro-Israel lobbying group announced On Thursday, the association is backing Democratic candidates running against the “offshoot” of Reps. Jamal Bowman and Cori Bush, who opposed the Jewish state’s response to the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack.
The Jewish Democratic Council of America is targeting Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who will oust Mr. Bowman in New York’s 16th Congressional District, and St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley, who will oust Mr. Bush in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District. Supported Mr. Bell.
“We know that Wesley Bell and George Latimer support the priorities that Jewish Americans are prioritizing when they go to the polls,” said JDCA Public Affairs Director Sam Crystal. told Jewish Insider. first reported About endorsements.
“We want them to stand up for abortion rights, to protect our democracy, for safer communities, to fight gun violence, for health care for all, and We know that we are fighting to support Israel and combat anti-Semitism.”
On Tuesday, a video of Bowman, 47, resurfaced calling Israel an “apartheid” state and committing widely reported atrocities committed by Hamas during the October 7 attack, including the rape of a Jewish woman. and the murder of Jewish infants) are “crimes.” lie. “
Democrats in the Bronx and Westchester accused Israel of spreading “propaganda” during a Nov. 17 rally in White Plains, only to retract that comment when the video was recirculated this month. .
“As I said at this rally, what Hamas did on October 7 was a war crime and all hostages must be released,” he said in a statement. “The United Nations has confirmed that Hamas has committed rape and sexual violence, a reprehensible fact that I fully condemn.”
Last month, Mr. Bowman and Mr. Bush voted in favor of a House resolution condemning the rape and sexual violence committed by Hamas leaders and terrorists against music festival attendees and other civilians in Israel.
But Mr. Bush, also 47, joined anti-Israel Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) in the same month as one of only two people to vote against a bill banning jihadists involved in the attack from entering the United States. He was one of the members of the House of Representatives.
Bush and Bowman too voted against A resolution released weeks after the Hamas attack confirmed that the House would “cooperate in defending Israel from the barbaric war waged by Hamas and other terrorists.”
Mr. Bush is trailing Mr. Bell in polls ahead of the Aug. 6 primary and is under investigation by the Justice Department for allegedly improperly disbursing federal and campaign funds to protect his personal safety. are also facing.
In his first year in office, Mr. Bush paid $60,000 to Courtney Merritt, who he later married and did not have a private security license.he still received $5,000 per month For his accomplishments as of December.
A February poll by Republican firm Remington Research found Mr. Bell had nearly twice as much cash on hand as Mr. Bush, leading her by 22 points.
Bowman pleaded guilty last year to a misdemeanor charge in Washington, D.C., for setting off a fire alarm at a House office building as Democrats sought to delay the Sept. 30 vote to avoid a government shutdown. Paid a $1,000 fine.
Mr. Latimer attacked Mr. Bowman in the primary campaign over his out-of-district fundraising, blogged about 9/11 conspiracy theories before running, and praised anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan. Democrats in the deep blue 16th Congressional District will select candidates on June 25th.
The Jewish Democratic Party did not endorse challengers to other anti-Israel incumbents, such as Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pennsylvania), who is running against Babini Patel in the April 23 Keystone State primary.
The JDCA also supports California Rep. Adam Schiff, who is seeking to unseat the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and former Westchester Rep. Mondaire Jones, who is seeking to unseat Republican Rep. Mike Lawler. and 20 other House and Senate Democratic candidates for the 2024 elections.
The group will not spend any money on the primary, but $1.5 million has been pledged for the November election.
