Remember, the Biden administration supports a Gaza plan that includes a ceasefire, and polls show Americans are increasingly in favor of a ceasefire. But AIPAC is moving full steam ahead. The lobbying group’s first major target is Bowman. With the June 25 primary approaching, the second-term congressman may be facing the most expensive primary in history. AIPAC, through its super PAC, has pledged to spend up to $25 million to elect Westchester County Mayor George Latimer.
It’s hard to overstate how important the Bowman vs. Latimer showdown is for progressives. The outcome speaks to more than just money in politics; it raises concerns about the influx of right-wing money into Democratic primaries and tests AIPAC’s ability to shield Israel from criticism. But more than that, it’s a test of how far the American right will go to crush the progressive movement. It should come as no surprise to anyone that a black politician is the canary in the coal mine.
I recently spent time with Bowman and his supporters to understand their strategy for overcoming this historic challenge.
Alicia Singham Goodwin, political director for Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, said her group has been organizing “Jews for Jamal” events and doing phone banking in the mix of urban and suburban neighborhoods. “The Jewish community is already feeling deep grief. [Hamas’s deadly attacks on] “October 7,” she told me, “now it’s like AIPAC and the media and a lot of vultures coming in and pressuring our pain to keep us from healing for their own political purposes.” Campaigning for Bowman, she explained, is a way to make amends for that pain. “We’re organizing to get out of this spiral of sadness, pain, and anger and get to something more beautiful.”
On a recent Saturday in Harlem, Obama administration alumni took a break from campaigning to enjoy sandwiches, wine and juice. They had gathered in chat groups to discuss their frustrations with President Biden’s Gaza policies, but now they were rallying for another black congressman who represents hope and change. A former educator, Bowman won in 2020 on a progressive platform, defeating longtime Democratic incumbent Eliot L. Engel. The 16th Congressional District stretches from the vibrant Caribbean immigrant community in the North Bronx to the affluent commuter district of Westchester County.
“We’ve got 60 RSVPs for Bagels with Bowman,” one organizer announced. But the candidate couldn’t help but think about money. “You’ve got 3 million supporters right now, right?” he asked his campaign manager. “Because they,” Latimer’s supporters, “have 20 million supporters.” His light-hearted delivery made him seem like David facing Goliath, drawing chuckles from the room. “They have the money, but they don’t have the supporters,” Bowman said.
But will that be enough? Mr. Latimer is well known in the district, and his ad campaign has been relentless: About $13 million so far, mostly in broadcast ads. Last quarter, Mr. Bowman’s campaign raised $1.3 million.
Biden’s reelection campaign has struggled to retain a large black voter base — a recent Washington Post/Ipsos poll found that 62% of young black voters support the president, down from 74% in 2020 — so backing a black incumbent president under attack from the right would look good.
That’s because black leaders are being targeted in many ways, especially on the issue of Israel and Gaza: Most of the candidates in AIPAC-funded primaries are being run against candidates of color. (Cori Bush of Missouri, who also called for a ceasefire, is set to appear on AIPAC’s list later this summer.) The New York Times reported that a number of black lawmakers were targeted in an Israeli-commissioned social media influence campaign aimed at drumming up support for the war.
Meanwhile, the Congressional Black Caucus has been largely silent about the black incumbents it threatens. AIPAC boasts that it is the largest fundraising arm for Congressional Black Caucus members. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), who is supporting Bowman for reelection, is one of the biggest beneficiaries of AIPAC funding. Even the NAACP has issued a statement calling on the Biden administration to stop supplying weapons to Israel and promote a ceasefire. But is the Congressional Black Caucus unable (or unwilling) to protect its own members?
As the race heats up, some Democratic leaders understand what’s at stake and are stepping up to back Bowman. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts) has endorsed Bowman, and more Democratic leaders should do the same.
Envisioning victory on June 25, Bowman explains what it would mean: “Imagine how different the world would be in that moment,” he said. “A lot of people would stop being afraid of AIPAC. Then we could have real conversations about how to fight anti-Semitism, how to liberate Palestine, and how to elevate the humanity of all people.”
