George Latimer, a pro-Israel centrist, won the Democratic primary for New York’s 17th Congressional district, defeating incumbent Rep. Jamaal Bowman.
The primary highlighted the Democratic party’s deep divisions over the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, with Bowman being one of Congress’s most vocal critics of Israel, accusing the country of committing genocide in Gaza.
The big picture: With his victory, Latimer has all but ensured the ousting of one of the party’s most liberal voices in Congress.
- Latimer is a former state legislator who has served as Westchester County executive since 2018.
- Bowman had been seeking a third term, representing a district in New York City’s northern suburbs.
Why it mattress: Latimer’s win is a blow to the party’s progressive wing and serves as a potential cautionary tale for other candidates looking to shape their campaign messaging around the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Latimer is likely to be the favorite to win in the general election, as the district is considered to be a Democratic stronghold and includes parts of Westchester and a small portion of the Bronx.
