Nearly 4 years ago, as a Democratic Party district leader in the village of Bronxville, I wrote an editorial supporting the candidacy of Jamaal Bowman for Congress. Then a little known principal of a middle school in the Bronx, Bowman stepped forward to run against Eliot Engel, a Democrat who had served in Congress for over 30 years. In my piece, I wrote that the time was ripe for transformative change in our district. We were struggling through a global pandemic, amidst a summer of turmoil marked by nationwide protests against police brutality in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.
Congressman Engel had grown increasingly remote and disconnected from his constituents, particularly those in underserved neighborhoods in the Bronx and Westchester. Worse yet, his foreign policy views as chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had grown more and more hawkish and more out of touch with the views of Democratic primary voters (albeit very much aligned with well-heeled defense contractors!)
I described Mr. Bowman as a leader with energy, vision and progressive purpose, and I feel the same way today. As a savvy community activist who had forged ties with grass roots networks and multi-racial social justice coalitions, Jamaal struck me as the right candidate to take on the longtime incumbent Engel. A candidate unafraid to speak out forcefully on the evils of militarism and systemic racism. And a candidate who could win! In a David-beats-Goliath moment, despite being outspent 2 to 1 in the primary, Jamaal Bowman defeated Congressman Engel, carrying all major demographic groups across the district. He went on to win handily in the general election. In 2022, Congressman Bowman triumphed again in a contested primary before winning re-election by a large margin.
As Jamaal faces yet another stiff primary challenge on June 25, this time from an opponent bankrolled by Republican megadonors and millions in AIPAC dollars, I believe that Congressman Bowman more than ever deserves our support. He remains the candidate of progressive change. While, as the Daily News, the Intercept, and other publications have reported, his primary opponent wines and dines with donors who support Donald Trump and who finance election-denying GOP Congressmen, Jamaal continues to deliver on-the-ground results for his constituents, securing more than $1 billion in funding for his district. Unlike his opponent, a career politician who prides himself on cutting back room deals, Congressman Bowman is that rarest of politicians: not only a man of conviction and courage, but one who brings home the bacon.
Jamaal’s opponent consistently accuses Congressman Bowman of trafficking in “divisive” rhetoric. Never mind that he himself traffics in baseless and slanderous accusations, such as his statement that Jamaal accepts “Hamas money”. He claims that Congressman Bowman has failed to work across the aisle. If elected, this opponent promises that he –as a freshman Congressman! — would be better positioned to deliver results than Jamaal.
How? By “working with Republicans.”
And, pray tell, who would he be working with? Marjorie Taylor Greene? Mike Lawler? House Majority Leader “MAGA Mike” Johnson? Bowman’s opponent would have you believe he would “stand up to MAGA Republicans,” never mentioning that his campaign is bankrolled by MAGA donors busy electing MAGA Republicans across the country. In short, Jamaal’s opponent has no rationale for his campaign, except to drive a wedge through the Democratic Party and to enable the worst instincts of his reactionary backers.
The stakes of this upcoming primary election could not be more significant. Democracy (small “d”) is on the line. 4 years after Congressman Bowman’s historic win in 2020, primary voters are faced with a clear choice: a play-it-safe establishment MAGA-funded “Democrat” or a proven leader of transformative and generational change who has delivered for his district. Let us not go back to the days of play-it-safe Democrats. I urge you to vote for Congressman Bowman on June 25th.
Bill Gaston, Bronxville
Mr. Gaston is a Democratic Party District Leader in the Village of Bronxville. The views expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent the views of the Bronxville Democratic Committee, which has not endorsed any candidate in the race.
