New York Republican leaders celebrated the first removal of a “Squad” member since the progressive coalition was launched in 2018, after Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) lost the primary to Westchester County Mayor George Latimer, a moderate pro-Israel Democrat, by double digits.
“Farewell, Jamaal. Socialists in Congress and state legislatures should be similarly removed from public office,” New York State Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox said in a statement Wednesday. “Jamaal Bowman has just faced the consequences of his disgraceful behavior. From his childish fire alarm prank to his blatant anti-Semitic comments to his most recent public outburst, Bowman has repeatedly demonstrated that he is unfit for public office.”
In his defeat speech on Tuesday night, Bowman apologized for a highly publicized, expletive-filled rally he held in the Bronx over the weekend, but repeated his criticism of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a pro-Israel advocacy group that has reportedly spent nearly $15 million to unseat “Squad” members accused of making anti-Semitic slurs.
“I want to publicly apologize for using foul language at times. I’m sorry,” Bowman told supporters after his defeat. “But I think this is — I don’t know how to put it. We shouldn’t be conforming to a sick society. We should be outraged. We should be outraged that dark money super PACs are pouring $20 million into brainwashing people to believe things that aren’t true. We should be outraged. We should be outraged that, unfortunately, some of our so-called Democrats are teaming up with radical, racist right-wing Republicans.”
Meanwhile, AIPAC, in a post on X, congratulated Latimer on her “reigning victory over anti-Israel critics.”
“This victory for a strongly pro-Israel candidate is a major win for mainstream Democrats who support the Jewish state and represents a defeat for the extremists,” AIPAC said.
He is the first House Democrat to lose a primary.
“AIPAC-backed Democrats have won 100% of this election so far,” the group added in a separate post. “Being pro-Israel is good policy and good politics!”
Westchester County Mayor George Latimer speaks at an election night party on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in White Plains, New York. (AP Photo/Gina Moon)
Bowman’s speech Tuesday night showcased his socialist views and criticism of Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
“We know it is our duty and our imperative to stand together, to work together, to build a multi-racial, multi-background, multi-ethnic democracy that works for all,” he said. “We will never tolerate the bombing and murder of infants in Gaza. We will never tolerate the murder and bombing of children in the Bronx…. We will never tolerate Western imperialism in Honduras, in Guatemala, and here.”
“We are a union that believes an end to forever wars is possible and necessary,” he added. “We will continue to fight to tax the wealthy. We know they need to pay their fair share. We cannot support corporate tax cuts. And we want and demand universal child care. And we will continue to fight the evils of capitalism, militarism and racism.”
Democratic candidate slams Bowman for “divisive theater,” says foul-mouthed rally undermines party “unity”
New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman speaks at a watch party on the eve of the 2024 primary election, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Yonkers, New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Meanwhile, Mr Latimer welcomed the victory with a message of unity.
“Tonight we turn a new page and say we believe everyone can be represented. It doesn’t matter your age, your skin color, your religion, your sexual identity, whether you’re right-handed or left-handed, whether you’re a Mets fan or a Yankees fan,” Latimer joked.
“We’re going to Washington. We’re one of 435. But we’re not alone. There are good men and women in Washington who think like us. We have to find each other and work together. We have to look at the arguments of the far right and the far left and say we can’t destroy this country with their rhetoric and their arguments,” he said, drawing cheers from the crowd. “We have to unite across that continuum. If you have strong beliefs, you have to work with people who don’t share those beliefs, because America is in danger.”
Westchester County Mayor George Latimer poses for a photo with supporters at an election night party, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in White Plains, New York. (AP Photo/Gina Moon)
While Bowman said he wanted to tax the wealthy, Latimer told supporters, “I don’t want to denigrate anybody, and I understand that there are people like that. There are men and women who have accomplished things and have earned wealth because of their accomplishments. Instead of denigrating them, let’s include them in what we do, because we want growth for jobs and opportunity for everyone.”
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“We have to fight to not denigrate each other and to remember that we are all Americans and we are all bound together by a common future. And when you think about the issues that we see are serious, climate change is serious, we have serious issues with immigration, we are bound together by a common future,” Latimer said. “So we’re going to address those issues together. We’re going to discuss, we’re going to debate, we’re going to find ways to come together. This country can’t afford to break up into little pieces and we can’t move forward as a country unless all our representatives understand the need for unity.”
Fox News’ Tamara Gitto contributed to this report.
