Westchester County Executive George Latimer, a Democrat, formally launched a main marketing campaign Wednesday in opposition to Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York.
“These are difficult times. NYers need a Congressmember who will listen to every voice, not just those who agree with him, & who will deliver on the issues that matter,” Mr. Latimer posted on social media.
“I’m running for Congress because I know we need new leadership — and I’m ready to deliver,” he mentioned.
Mr. Latimer has mentioned his assist for Israel was a giant purpose that factored into his resolution to run within the sixteenth Congressional District. Mr. Bowman has been criticized for calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.
“Unfortunately, instead of working for us, our congressman is making news for all the wrong reasons,” Mr. Latimer‘s campaign video stated.
Mr. Bowman has accused Israel of war crimes, while condemning Hamas for the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
Mr. Latimer’s resolution to main Mr. Bowman probably units up an election subsequent 12 months that may illustrate the rising rift within the Democratic Party over the U.S. alliance with Israel and the power of the social gathering’s leftist faction.
The marketing campaign of Mr. Latimer, a former state senator and assemblyman, is anticipated to have hefty monetary assist from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and different pro-Israel particular curiosity teams.
Several different Democrats across the nation like Mr. Latimer have launched primaries in opposition to incumbents who’re identified for his or her strident pro-Palestinian stances.
The sixteenth Congressional District is the northern Bronx and the New York City suburbs of Westchester County, whose demographics vary from a few of the most distinguished Jewish households to Black and Hispanic communities.
Mr. Bowman, 47, is a Black progressive freshman lawmaker who is understood for his political theatrics on Capitol Hill.
Mr. Latimer, 70, is well-known all through Westchester County and in Albany as a veteran Democratic politician with a string of election wins below his belt. He is also White.
The announcement got here as Mr. Bowman is going through a censure for pulling a fireplace alarm in a House workplace constructing when there was not an emergency.
Mr. Bowman was captured on a congressional safety video pulling a fireplace alarm contained in the Cannon House Office Building in late September, earlier than the House was scheduled to vote on a authorities funding invoice. The alarm induced the constructing to be evacuated.
Mr. Bowman apologized and claimed the incident was an accident.
A ultimate vote on whether or not to cross the censure decision is anticipated Thursday.
The D.C. legal professional common charged Mr. Bowman in late October over the incident and the congressman pled responsible to a misdemeanor cost for falsely triggering a fireplace alarm in a House workplace constructing.
Censure is a uncommon however noteworthy condemnation of a lawmaker, however doesn’t carry specific punishments past the general public rebuke.
