Metro

Record $23M spent in NY Democratic primary brawl – most of it to oust ‘Squad’ Rep. Jamaal Bowman

By
Social Links for Carl Campanile
Published June 19, 2024
Updated June 19, 2024, 6:02 p.m. ET

New Yorkers can’t catch a ballgame, a TV show or browse social media without seeing advertising related to one hotly-contested House race.

A record-shattering $23 million has been spent so far on commercials in the 16th District’s Democratic primary pitting “Squad’ Rep. Jamaal Bowman against Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

“The #NY16 primary is one week away. It’s seen over $23M in spending and reservations, making it the most expensive House primary ever,” campaign advertising tracking firm Ad Impact revealed on X Tuesday.

Of that amount — which covers TV, radio, social media and digital advertising — a staggering $14 million has been spent by United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), to pound Bowman over his criticisms of the Jewish state.

George Latimer You Know Me Political ad
A record-shattering $23 million in advertising has been spent so far on the Democratic primary pitting “Squad’ Rep. Jamaal Bowman against Westchester County Executive George Latimer. youtube/ George Latimer

The barrage — which also includes spots attacking Bowman for his vote against President Biden’s 2021 infrastructure law — dwarfs the ad spending of all other groups combined.

In all, pro-Latimer forces have outspent those backing Bowman by a margin of more than five-to-one.

Latimer’s campaign itself has spent $2.54 million in ads and a pro-Latimer, anti-Bowman cryptocurrency group called Fair Shake bankrolled another $2.14 million in spots.

That means Latimer and his allies have spent nearly $19 million to topple Bowman, who is seeking a third term in the 16th, which encompasses much of Westchester and parts of the northern Bronx.

By comparison, the Bowman campaign has spent just $2 million on ads, while the pro-Bowman leftist group Justice Democrats paid for $1 million in spots and the Working Families Party chipped in $538,000.

The ad spending on the New York race shatters the previous record for a House primary, set two years ago when $17.8 million went toward ads in Oregon’s 6th District, according to an Ad Impact spokesman.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., is at a campaign stop in White Plains, New York, on Tuesday, June 11, 2024
“The #NY16 primary is one week away. It’s seen over $23M in spending and reservations, making it the most expensive House primary ever,” said campaign advertising tracking firm Ad Impact. AP

The New York race is among the most closely watched in the country — a microcosm of the split between the Democratic socialist progressive left, represented by Bowman and the more moderate wing embodied in Latimer.

The reason for the divide has been the Israel-Hamas war.

Latimer has been a big booster of Israel and its retaliatory response in Gaza to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack, while Bowman has accused the Israeli military of committing “genocide.” 

“My opponent has sold out to AIPAC and their right-wing billionaires. They’re spending millions to try and buy our district. They may have the money but we have the power of the people. #WeDecide the future of NY-16, not them,” Bowman said in a statement Wednesday on X.

“This is the many versus the money and we will win,” he added.

Campaign strategists say Bowman — who will participate in rallies with fellow “Squad” member and neighboring Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Saturday — faces an uphill climb to keep his seat.

“It will be hard for the organized left to overcome a voting record that appears out of sync with this district. Not just on Israel, but on supporting President Biden’s infrastructure bill,” said Democratic strategist Chris Coffey.

“You see lots of mainstream Democrats supporting Latimer, which is near unheard of against an incumbent Democrat. “

Coffey said the left wing is “pulling out all of the stops to try and hold on” but the polling, money, and voter registration numbers, are all on Latimer’s side.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer stands for a photograph in White Plains, New York, U.S., on December 12, 2023
The spending on the New York race shatters the previous record for most expensive ad spending for a House primary in Oregon’s 6th House District — $17.8M in 2022, an Ad Impact spokesman said. The Washington Post via Getty Images

“A great ground game might be worth a couple points and folks on the far left might be slightly more likely to vote, but Latimer seems to be far enough ahead that it should still be advantage Latimer,” he said.

An Emerson College/PIX 11 poll of the race released last week put Latimer ahead of Bowman by 17 points.

“This is a real test for the Democratic Socialists beyond this election,” said campaign consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who predicted a Latimer win would embolden the pro-Israel lobby and weaken the anti-Israel Democratic Socialists of America — which supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement — in future elections, including next year’s votes for New York City mayoralty and city council.

If Bowman holds on, Sheinkopf added, it will electrify both the political left and the anti-Israel movement.