Mondaire Jones and Jamaal Bowman entered Congress in 2021 as young progressives from a new generation taking over New York politics.

But Jones, who represented a Hudson Valley seat for a single term, is backing Bowman’s opponent in the Democratic primary, George Latimer, a seasoned Westchester politician who serves as county executive.

“There is a real difference in the style and substance as between these two candidates,” Jones said.

Bowman’s sometimes strident criticism of the Israeli government was among the differences that led Jones to back Latimer.

“I will always stand up for my Jewish constituents and I will be damned if I allow anyone to tear at the fabric of our civil rights coalition between Black people and Jewish people in the Hudson Valley and throughout this country,” Jones said to applause.

The rhetoric Jones cited included Bowman doubting that Hamas used sexual violence against Israeli women — a remark Bowman later recanted.

Bowman and Latimer are campaigning in a district that stretches from White Plains in Westchester County to the northern Bronx.

Latimer is staking his campaign on bringing money and resources back to the district.

“You don’t run for office to make a speech to get on cable TV,” Latimer said at a news conference announcing Jones’ support. “You go into public office to try to use resources in a way that helps people’s lives improve.

He said support for Israel is in the mainstream of his party and the New York House delegation

“These are people who understand that there has to be support for Israel and a balance of these issues and I think that balance is lost by the incumbent in my district,” Latimer said. “I think he has vilified Israel with the things he’s said and done over a long period of time.”

Bowman, a former middle school principal who knocked off a longtime pro-Israel incumbent to take his seat, said in a statement from his campaign that “Washington will always appeal to politicians who put their own career aspirations ahead of the needs of the people in our communities, but from being Principal Bowman to Congressman Bowman, I’m proud to have proven to our district that another way is possible.”

Ana María Archila, co-director of the New York Working Families Party, is backing Bowman. 

“He gave voice to a growing number of people who feel really worried about the trajectory of the war, about the role of the United States and supplying bombs that result in the killing of more than 30,000 people,” Archila said.

She thinks Jones’ endorsement betrays his progressivism as he faces his own tough race — a general election against Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in a Hudson Valley seat north of the Bowman-Latimer race.

“I don’t think Mondaire’s endorsement of Latimer makes that big of a difference,” she said. “I think Mondaire is trying to win a race in his district.”

Meanwhile, Bowman has the support of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn and the rest of the leadership team.

“We’re in ongoing conversations with the Bowman campaign as it relates to their strategy over the next few weeks,” Jeffries said.