As the New York primary approaches, we end today’s show with the man New York magazine calls, quote, “the most endangered Democrat in America.” Jamaal Bowman represents New York’s 16th Congressional District, former Bronx middle school principal. His reelection bid is showing the powerful role of AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, in Democratic primary politics. The pro-Israel lobby group reportedly plans to spend as much as $25 million to defeat Bowman, who was one of the first lawmakers to call for a permanent ceasefire after October 7th. AIPAC is backing Bowman’s challenger and helped to find and encourage him to run, George Latimer, the Westchester County executive.
On Tuesday, former progressive New York Congressmember Mondaire Jones shocked many when he also endorsed Latimer in order to, quote, “stand up for my Jewish constituents.” Jones and Bowman were both elected in 2020. Jones lost his seat and is now running again. Meanwhile, Bowman has held his seat since he defeated the 16-term incumbent Eliot Engel, who once bragged, quote, “I sit down with AIPAC on every piece of legislation” coming out of Foreign Affairs Committee. Jamaal Bowman is one of several Squad members
— source democracynow.org | Jun 06, 2024