Reps Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) in 2021. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

By Jacob Kornbluh February 20, 2024

Facing a strong primary challenge from a Democrat backed by AIPAC, New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman is joining forces with one of the most vocal Israel critics in Congress — Rep. Rashida Tlaib.

Tlaib and Bowman — who recently lost an endorsement from the self-described pro-Israel, pro-peace lobby J Street — have formed a joint fundraising committee and are expected to hold their first event together next month. Such committees have become popular with candidates, who can draw on a larger pool of donors.

Bowman is looking to benefit from Tlaib’s fundraising prowess. The Michigan Democrat raised $3.7 million in the last quarter, according to recent FEC filings, though she doesn’t have a primary challenger. Bowman raised $725,000 in the same period, with only 9% of contributions coming from donors in New York’s 16th District, which includes the southern part of Westchester County and a small portion of the Bronx in New York City. Donors write a single check of up to $13,200 an election cycle to a joint committee, which distributes it between the candidates. The usual campaign limits — $6,600 per candidate per election cycle — apply.

The move comes as Bowman, 47, is facing opposition both locally and nationally for his stance on the Israel-Hamas war. His primary challenger, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, raised nearly $1.4 million in the last quarter of 2023, with more than $606,000 coming from pro-Israel donors affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, through the AIPAC PAC portal.

J Street, which has endorsed candidates AIPAC opposes, said it rescinded its endorsement of Bowman for “singling out” Israel for blame in the war and accusing it of genocide.

The Latimer campaign said Bowman has turned toward Tlaib because of his weak fundraising. It noted that she was the only House member who refused to vote for a resolution condemning the rape of Israeli women on and after Oct. 7 and is campaigning against President Joe Biden in her home state. Tlaib was censured by the House in November for her anti-Israel remarks. 

“That says it all,” the Latimer campaign said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Bowman’s campaign didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. 

“It is not surprising that anti-Israel extremists are working together,” AIPAC spokesperson Marshall Wittman said, “in stark contrast to mainstream Democrats who stand with Israel as it battles Hamas terrorism.” 

Trading barbs

Four months before their June primary, the Latimer-Bowman contest is growing increasingly bitter. Bowman threatened a defamation lawsuit after Black Westchester magazine falsely reported that Latimer, at a Black History Month event Feb. 10, accused Bowman of taking money from Hamas.

Latimer, 70, said he never accused Bowman of taking money from Hamas, but from Hamas supporters. During his remarks at the event, he said, he referred to a joint fundraiser Bowman held with Rep. Cori Bush, the original sponsor of a resolution calling for a ceasefire. The fundraiser’s host committee included several anti-Israel activists who have been accused of defending Hamas after Oct. 7, according to the right-wing Free Beacon website.

And the anonymous source for the Black Westchester story about Latimer’s remarks has since told Lohud, a local New York news outlet, that she is a Bowman supporter and may have omitted the word “supporters” when she said she heard Latimer accuse his rival of taking money from Hamas.

Bowman has strongly condemned Hamas. But he has also joined several of his colleagues in condemning Israel and calling for an immediate ceasefire. In recent weeks he has accused Israel of genocide and ethnic cleansing.

Jewish support for Bowman could have an impact on this year’s race in his deep-blue district. The two-term congressman won the 2022 Democratic primary with just 54% of the vote against two rivals.

Bowman directly addressed AIPAC’s support for Latimer at his campaign launch last month. “You know what we have got to say to AIPAC? Bring it on yo,” he said. “AIPAC, bring it on yo. We are not scared.” 

Allies, who call themselves “Jews for Jamaal,” have come to Bowman’s defense when he’s criticized as anti-Israel. The Jewish Vote, a group formed in 2018 by leaders of Jews For Racial & Economic Justice, endorsed Bowman for reelection.

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