Jamaal Bowman, an increasingly sharp critic of Israel, wins Socialists’ endorsement
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) on May 23, 2024. Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Bloomberg via Getty Images
By Jacob Kornbluh May 29, 2024
Three years ago, the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America considered expelling Rep. Jamaal Bowman over his trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
But the New York congressman’s criticism of Israel has grown increasingly tough during Israel’s campaign in Gaza — he has accused Israel of genocide and voted against emergency funding for the Jewish state’s fight against Hamas. On Wednesday, the two-term congressman won the DSA chapter’s endorsement.
“Jamaal has been one of the strongest voices against genocide and for peace as many of his colleagues rush to warmonger,” the chapter said in a statement.
Most of its members voted to approve Bowman’s endorsement request in the race against Westchester County Executive George Latimer. “Together, we will defend this seat from AIPAC and pro-war extremists,” the chapter wrote, referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
The DSA was broadly condemned for celebrating the Hamas attacks on Israel at a demonstration in Times Square on Oct. 7 — the day of the assault.
Bowman, 47, has had a strained relationship with the DSA. He first engaged with the group in 2019 when he sought an endorsement from the Lower Hudson Valley chapter for his primary challenge against former Rep. Eliot Engel, the staunch supporter of Israel who chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee.
The group gave him a last-minute endorsement, and Bowman went on to defeat Engel. In Congress, Bowman aligned with “The Squad,” the five congresswomen known for their critical views on Israel. And he championed DSA-backed initiatives, such as the Green New Deal and the Protecting the Right to Organize Act.
He also faced backlash from Jewish leaders over a since-deleted tweet that many felt unfairly faulted Israel for failing to distribute vaccines to the Palestinian population living in the West Bank and Gaza.
Then nearly a year into his first term, Bowman angered the DSA for meeting with Israeli leaders during a trip to Israel sponsored by J Street, and voting for funds to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. He also refused to support the BDS movement. Several chapters across the country called for his expulsion from the national group. The DSA national leadership chose not to punish Bowman, but conveyed strong disapproval.
Bowman distanced himself from the DSA in his first reelection in 2022 and didn’t renew his membership.
But since Oct, 7, his remarks have brought him back into alignment with the group. He has vocally opposed Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, said that the Oct. 7 attack “did not occur in a vacuum” and accused Israel of genocide and ethnic cleansing.
He sought the DSA endorsement after months of discussions with activists advocating for a permanent ceasefire, and as polls showed him losing ground to Latimer.
A recent poll, from the Democratic Majority for Israel, which is backing Latimer, showed Bowman trailing by 17 points among registered voters. An internal Bowman campaign poll gave him a one-point lead.
Bowman is also seeing a decline in Jewish support — estimated to be 10% of the electorate in his district — which includes much of Southern Westchester County and a bit of the Bronx. AIPAC has reportedly committed to spend heavily against him. And J Street —which calls itself “the political home of pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans” and has often endorsed candidates AIPAC opposes — rescinded its endorsement of Bowman in January for “singling out” Israel for blame in the war.
Members of the DSA chapter in New York were divided over issuing an endorsement for Bowman, who appeared at a virtual candidate forum with the group on Sunday evening.
On social media, some members said they were displeased with his answers to some of their questions. The Marxist Unity Group NYC implored DSA members to condition an endorsement for Bowman on a pledge to publicly support the BDS movement and oppose military funding for Israel. Another aligned group, DSA Emerge, said the endorsement would be misguided. Still other members of the DSA argued that it was necessary to endorse Bowman to bolster him over Latimer.
“Palestine is on the ballot,” DSA-NYC said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Latimer campaign in response to the endorsement said the congressman should explain why he distanced himself from the DSA in 2022, but this year wants “to get back in good graces with an extremist group that promoted a rally soon after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack where protesters were seen flashing a swastika.”
A Bowman campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request to comment.
