Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (R-New York) on Wednesday slammed AIPAC for pouring tens of millions of dollars into Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s divisive primary campaign after Bowman lost to a moderate Democrat in the primary.
Bowman, a two-term progressive, faced stiff opposition from the pro-Israel political advocacy group AIPAC because of his criticism of the Israeli government. The group, which has historically given more money to Republicans than Democrats and has given little to Democratic primaries, spent at least $14.5 million against Bowman.
“This was a historic expenditure of approximately $20 million, the largest amount ever seen in American history. Absolutely. Period.” Ocasio-Cortez told reporters: from the Capitol on Wednesday.
“I think we need to have a serious conversation about AIPAC,” she continued, “about how an organization run by Republicans, primarily Republicans, and largely with Republican money, is squandering money and playing an extremely divisive role within the Democratic Party.”
Several mainstream Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, have endorsed Westchester County Mayor George Latimer’s primary challenger. Israel policy was a central issue in the campaign, and Latimer is a strong supporter of Israel.
Bowman also faces redistricting that will make his reelection bid tougher: His new district includes less of the heavily Democratic North Bronx and more of more moderate Westchester County.
In addition to influencing the primary, Ocasio-Cortez said AIPAC’s influence on Bowman’s election and other candidates could bear fruit in the general election.
“It makes coalition building and creating a winning coalition much harder,” she said. “To ensure victory statewide and federally, we need the energy and coalition of the progressive base, and Republicans are putting those resources into it.” [primary fights] There’s a reason.”
“Because people and representatives like Jamaal Bowman can mobilize and reach areas that many other areas of the Democratic Party cannot,” she continued, “and if Republicans can raise the money to remove people like that from the board, it will further their own interests in the November election.”
Rep. Cori Bush (D-Missouri), a progressive who is also challenging in a primary where Israel policy has played a prominent role, similarly blamed AIPAC’s influence for Bowman’s defeat on Wednesday.
“AIPAC and its allies, with the support of far-right Donald Trump megadonors, have poured massive amounts of money into this primary election, showing how desperate these billionaire extremists are to buy off our democracy, advance their own interests and silence voices of progress and justice,” she said in a statement. “There’s no question that big money needs to be taken out of politics.”
Latimer won Tuesday’s primary and is expected to easily win the November election.
