A pair of progressive Democrats in the House are facing opposition from a growing number of Jewish organizations backing candidates hoping to oust prominent members of “the Squad.”
The Democratic Majority for Israel, a Democratic advocacy group that supports pro-Israel policies, endorsed primary challengers to two of the most high-profile Democrats calling for a ceasefire in Gaza: Reps. Cori Bush (D-MO) and Jamaal Bowman (D-NY). The group listed a number of “problematic records” for the lawmakers in explaining the endorsements, including their voting records on Israel.
Instead, the group is backing Westchester County Executive George Latimer in his challenge against Bowman and St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell to face Bush.
“We look forward to helping Mr. Latimer in his campaign to defeat Congressman Jamaal Bowman, whose troubling track record includes demonizing and delegitimizing Israel and efforts to damage the U.S.-Israel relationship, while failing to address his constituents’ concerns about the alarming rise of antisemitism in their communities,” DMFI PAC Chairman Mark Mellman said in a statement.
The group lamented Bowman’s and Bush’s reputations as being “anti-Israel” and for standing at odds with the Biden administration on key pieces of legislation. For example, both Democrats voted against the most recent government spending legislation because of certain provisions included in the bill related to Israel — particularly one measure that restricts funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians.
Bowman has stirred anger among some pro-Israel groups for his repeated calls for a ceasefire and his vote against a resolution condemning support for Hamas and other terrorist organizations on college campuses. Bowman also voted against a separate resolution condemning support for Hamas and reaffirming U.S. support for Israel.
Bowman’s New York district, which includes southern Westchester County and a small part of the northern Bronx, has a large Jewish population, leading the Israel-Hamas war to become a central campaign matter.
Bush has similarly sparked ire among pro-Israel groups for her calls for a ceasefire and her comments accusing Congress and the Biden administration of fueling the deaths in Gaza.
The DMFI’s endorsements of the pair’s challengers mark only the latest examples of Jewish Democratic groups openly opposing some of the most high-profile progressive Democrats in Congress.
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The Jewish Democratic Council of America also threw its support behind Latimer and Bell last month, citing disapproval of Bowman’s and Bush’s criticism of Israeli military action in Gaza and their accusations of “genocide.” The American Israel Public Affairs Committee has also weighed in, pouring millions of dollars into the primary elections to support the primary challengers.
Bowman’s primary against Latimer will take place in late June, while Bush will square off against Bell in early August. Because both districts are blue, the winners of the primary are expected to win their general elections in November.