Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York, a member of the progressive “Squad,” recently lost his seat in a Democratic Party congressional primary to Westchester County executive George Latimer. This marks the first time a House member has been defeated by a primary challenger in the 2024 election cycle, as well as the first time a “Squad” member has been ousted from Congress.
The primary race between Bowman and Latimer highlighted deep divisions within the Democratic Party over issues such as the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Bowman, who has been vocal about his support for Palestinians and accused Israel of genocide, faced substantial opposition from a group affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which poured roughly $14 million into the race.
The large amount of spending, totaling $25 million overall, made this congressional primary the most expensive in the nation’s history. As attention now shifts to other primary races, Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri is facing a challenge from St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell, who is supported by AIPAC. Bush, who has also been critical of Israel, is bracing for a tough fight in the upcoming August 6 primary.
The outcome of the Bush-Bell primary will be closely watched to see if AIPAC-affiliated groups will continue to influence races involving progressive Democrats. While Bowman’s defeat was significant, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, another “Squad” member, easily won renomination in her district. The division within the Democratic Party over key issues continues to play out in high-stakes primary races across the country.
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