What Bowman’s Defeat Might Mean

As if there was not enough anti-Semitism spewing around the country and around the world, yesterday’s Democratic primary in New York’s 16th district added another ugly dimension to the world’s longest hatred. Representative Jamal Bowman’s defeat in the primary election to former Westchester County official George Latimer was soaked not only with polarized views on the war in Gaza, but, implicitly, also with attacks against Jews who voted against the two-term incumbent, Jamaal Bowman.

Bowman, one of the outspoken members of the progressive “Squad” in the House of Representatives, had opposed Israel’s response to Hamas’ attack against Israel on October 7. He had called for a ceasefire almost from the beginning of the conflict and consistently sided with Palestinians in the war. Bowman also called out Israel for committing genocide against the people of Gaza.

For his lack of nuance and failure to demonstrate a sensitivity to the Israeli perspective on the conflict, as well as for many statements deemed to be anti-Israel and anti-Semitic, large segments of the Jewish community opted to work on behalf his primary opponent, Latimer. The fact that the American Israel Political Affairs Committee (AIPAC) alone reportedly raised over $14 million to support Latimer made this primary race the most expensive House race in history. To be clear, Bowman lost because what he said and what he did or did not do during his two terms in the House, and not because so much advertising money was poured in against him.

Throughout the campaign, Bowman had attacked Latimer and his supporters in the pro-Israel community employing some of the classic anti-Semitic tropes concerning Jews and money. Regardless of his views on Israel’s war with Hamas, Bowman demonstrated a rank insensitivity to his own constituents, a significant portion of whom are Jewish. He made no effort to display any compassion for their pain over the October 7th massacre. It was his lack of nuance in his approach to the issues that disturbed many Democrats in the 16th District.

There is a further dimension which emerged in this campaign. Bowman polarized White voters and voters of Color. He generated hostility towards Whites which in turn he doubled down against Jews. The unity that Jews had extended in many circles during the height of the “Black Lives Matter” campaign appeared to have been totally lost on Bowman. There was no recognition of the joint paths which Blacks and Jews had travelled. He had no interest in reaching out to Jews, which he might have used to his advantage. Bowman sought rather to intensify his anger against Israel and his pro-Palestinian views.  

While there has been growing anti-Semitism in some segments of the Black population, Bowman, even in his stump speeches, attacked Whites when he addressed the Administration’s support for Israel. As he had alienated the Democratic Socialists of America a few years ago, he was now separating himself from the larger Democratic Party. Far from building a coalition, Bowman was polarizing. Furthermore, Bowman did ill service to the “Squad” or to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. 

For American Jews and for all Americans, Bowman’s defeat may be far more significant electorally than the New York 16th District and the Democratic Party. His defeat may well be signaling that in many political circles among traditional Republicans as well as Democrats, Americans have had enough of partisan polarization.  While Democrats rejected Senator Bernie Sanders, there is a sense that even Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez may be mellowing some of her views as she considers a future possible run for “loftier” offices. There are signals—even yesterday--that some of the candidates that former President Donald Trump is now backing are not necessarily emerging victorious in their own primary contests. America may be beginning to slowly revert to form which could become apparent in the fall congressional elections. It might even impact favorably for the Biden campaign, if it can be sustained.

All of this may be a bit premature, but it does appear that Bowman’s defeat is a message to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and to Black-Jewish relations in the future. Perhaps there is too much damage done already, but if not, George Latimer’s victory may be a harbinger for more consensual politics. Anti-Semitism in 2024 certainly does not need any additional derivatives.