We Endorse George Latimer for Congress, NY-16, Democratic Primary
George Latimer
The Democratic Primary election in New York’s 16th Congressional District this Tuesday may very well be one of the most important primaries in the country this year. Not only will it determine who will represent this solid blue district in the U.S. House of Representatives, but it will also be a bellwether for the future direction of the Democratic Party.
When Jamaal Bowman, a self-proclaimed ‘radical,’ was elected in 2020, he aligned himself with ‘The Squad,’ the most extreme far-left caucus in the House. He began representing what he calls a ‘movement.’ However, we question whether this ‘movement’ truly aligns with the views of his constituents, and our democratic readers in Westchester.
Refusing to compromise his rigid ideology, he voted against many of President Biden’s bi-partisan accomplishments, including the infrastructure bill, the debt ceiling deal, the child tax credit, and the federal budget. Bowman’s votes mirrored that of Marjorie Taylor Green and other members of the far-right Freedom Caucus. Although the far-left and far-right voted against these bills for different reasons, it highlights that both extremes refuse to compromise for the greater good of the country.
Bowman’s votes, inflammatory rhetoric, and stunts, such as pulling a fire alarm that delayed a crucial vote in Congress, left many Democrats feeling unrepresented. This prompted an intense effort to convince Westchester County Executive George Latimer to challenge him in the primary. Bowman’s refusal to vote against a resolution condemning Hamas immediately following the October 7th terrorist attack in Israel was one of many issues that convinced Latimer to make the run.
Without a strong record to run on, Bowman has waged his campaign promoting several falsehoods, chief among them that George Latimer is in the pocket of MAGA Republicans. This charge is absurd to anyone who has been following George Latimer’s long career in public service as a mainstream progressive Democrat. The baseless charge stems from the fact that Latimer has been the beneficiary of significant support from AIPAC, a single-issue pro-Israel PAC that receives donations from both Republicans and Democrats. Bowman conveniently leaves out the fact that many Democrats, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus, are also supported by AIPAC, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Bowman claims to have brought over $1 billion to the district, a doozy of a lie. The fact is that Bowman earmarked $14.6 million for the district in congressional appropriations. Most of the other funds he takes credit for are formula-driven in the budget and would have come to the district had the congressional seat been vacant.
In the final days of the campaign, as Latimer has surged in the polls, Bowman has shamefully resorted to calling Latimer a racist. The fact is this contest has nothing to do with race and everything to do with Bowman’s divisive record. If NY16 was represented by a mainstream Black Democrat such as Jeffries, Richie Torres, or Gregg Meeks, there wouldn’t be a primary. Latimer would be out there campaigning for their re-election. Bowman brought this challenge upon himself because he became a polarizing figure within his own party.
George Latimer will represent all the people of New York 16. He will work across ideological divides to find common ground and pass bills to improve people’s lives. He will put governing before grievance and will be part of the solution in Washington—not part of the problem. For this reason, we enthusiastically support George Latimer for Congress.
Bowman’s support in Westchester has come primarily from voters from the Working Families Party, Westchester Indivisible, and other progressive groups. What the campaign has born out is that the ideals of these groups is not symbolic of the ideals of most Westchester Democrats.
Usually, an incumbent member of Congress is unbeatable. But Congressman Bowman has come up against a democrat who has never been defeated in any election, beloved in Westchester, and willing to outwork anyone on the campaign trail, with ideals alligned with the voters in NY-16.
We endorse George Latimer for Congress, NY-16, in the democratic primary on June 25. You can also vote early up to June 23.
The voters in NY-16 need to have elected officials that will turn down the political noise and work to solve the problems facing our nation. Latimer will do that.
We endorse George Latimer for Congress, NY-16, Democratic Primary June 25. You can also vote early up to June 23 at the following locations:
Croton Municipal Building, 1 Van Wyck Street, Croton on Hudson, NY 10520
Eastchester Public Library, 11 Oakridge Place, Eastchester, NY 10709
Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Avenue, White Plains, NY 10607
Hastings-on-Hudson Public Library, 7 Maple Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706
St. Gregory The Great Church, 215 Halstead Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528
Mamaroneck Town Center, 740 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543
Mt. Kisco Public Library, 100 E. Main Street, Mt. Kisco, NY 10549
Mt. Pleasant Community Center, 125 Lozza Drive, Valhalla, NY 10595
Joseph G. Caputo Community Center, 95 Broadway, Ossining, NY 10562
Pound Ridge Town House, 179 Westchester Avenue, Pound Ridge, NY 10576
Rye Brook Firehouse, 940 King Street, Rye Brook, NY 10573
Somers Town House, 335 Route 202, Somers, NY 10589
Jefferson Village Annex, 3500 Hill Boulevard, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
Yorktown Cultural Center, 1974 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
Doles Center, 250 S. 6th Avenue, Mt. Vernon, NY 10550
Mt. Vernon City Hall, 1 Roosevelt Square, Mt. Vernon, NY 10550
New Rochelle City Hall Annex – 90 Beaufort Place, 90 Beaufort Place, New Rochelle, NY 10801
New Rochelle United Methodist Church, 1200 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10804
Peekskill Lincoln Depot Museum, 10 S. Water Street, Peekskill, NY 10566
Peekskill Neighborhood Center, 4 Nelson Avenue, Peekskill, NY 10566
Rye City- Resurrection- Early Childhood Education Center, 88 Milton Road, Rye, NY 10580
Westchester County Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, NY 10601
Grinton I. Will Library, 1500 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10710
Nodine Hill Community Center, 140 Fillmore Street, Yonkers, NY 10701
Riverfront Library, One Larkin Center, Yonkers, NY 10701.
