The three top Democrats in the U.S. House are endorsing embattled Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York, who is trying to fend off an aggressive primary challenge by the Westchester County executive. 

In a joint statement obtained first by NY1, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn), Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-CA), praised Bowman, saying his “life experiences — raised by a single mom in public housing and founding a public school serving low-income children in the Bronx — have shaped him into a public servant who fights for economic justice and in defense of historically underrepresented communities.”

What You Need To Know

  • In a statement, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn), Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-CA) all endorsed Rep. Jamaal Bowman is his reelection bid

  • Congressional leaders typically back incumbents facing primary opponents. However, challengers are often insurgents or party outsiders - not longtime local leaders

  • Westchester County Executive George Latimer launched his campaign in December, pledging to deliver “real progressive results, not rhetoric"

  • The endorsement puts Jeffries, a staunch ally of Israel, at odds with the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC, which has backed Latimer

Congressional leaders typically back incumbents facing primary opponents. Jeffries himself helped launch a PAC last cycle to defend incumbents. However, challengers are often insurgents or party outsiders - not longtime local leaders. 

Bowman, a former middle school principal and member of the progressive “Squad” on Capitol Hill, is facing a serious challenge by Westchester County Executive George Latimer, an elected official for more than 35 years and a former county Democratic chairman.

In their statement, the three House leaders described Bowman as someone who has fought to lower the cost of prescription drugs, advocated for investments in schools, and taken on the spread of so-called ghost guns.

In a statement, Bowman thanked the three leaders for their support, writing, "Together, we’ve stood up against powerful special interests and extreme MAGA Republicans to deliver much needed progress for poor and working people everywhere. We have more work to do and I’m excited to continue working with the House Democratic Leadership to defend our democracy, protect our rights, and fight for the people.”

When Latimer launched his campaign in December, he released a video pledging to deliver “real progressive results, not rhetoric,” while accusing Bowman of making news for “all the wrong reasons.”

Bowman grabbed headlines in September when he pulled a fire alarm on Capitol Hill, despite there not being a fire. He later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. He has also come under scrutiny for his past comments about the Israel-Hamas war and years-old blog posts featuring conspiracy theories about 9/11, which he says he regrets.

The endorsement puts Jeffries, a staunch ally of Israel who has called for Hamas to be “decisively” defeated, at odds once again this cycle with the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

AIPAC is backing Latimer in the primary, where the Israel-Hamas war has become a point of contention. Bowman, like several other progressives, has aggressively criticized Israel’s handling of its operations in Gaza in response to Hamas’s deadly Oct. 7 attack.

Bowman is seeking a third term representing New York’s 16th Congressional District, which includes a small piece of the Bronx and a large part of Westchester. He entered Congress in 2021 after successfully primarying 16-term Democratic incumbent Rep. Eliot Engel.

Latimer has in recent weeks touted the endorsements of several local Democratic committees, including the Mount Vernon Democratic City committee on Wednesday. He also has received Engel’s endorsement.