Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) is currently facing a tough reelection bid in the 16th Congressional district, lagging behind opponent Westchester County Executive George Latimer (D) by 17 points in the June 25 primary.
The Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill Survey shows Latimer leading with 48% support among Democratic primary voters, compared to Bowman’s 31%, with 21% undecided. The poll indicates that the Israel-Hamas conflict is a major factor in the election.
Around 45% of voters support Latimer’s pro-Israel stance, compared to 21% who align with Bowman’s critical views. Meanwhile, 26% of voters remain undecided on the issue.
Bowman had previously sparked controversy by tagging Israel as an apartheid state but later withdrew his comment. 50% of Democratic primary voters believe the U.S. is giving too much aid to Israel. At the same time, 46% think the U.S. isn’t doing enough for Palestinian humanitarian relief.
The poll also shows Latimer’s moderate stance and long history of public service in Westchester have helped him build a strong reputation. As a result, he is liked by voters with a 65% favorability rating, compared to Bowman’s 51%.
In addition, Latimer leads among white voters by 42 points, while Bowman, who is African-American, leads among black voters by 14 points. Hispanic voters are split evenly.
‘Squad’ member Jamaal Bowman down big in latest poll with primary election date looming https://t.co/CuZobfv49x
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) June 11, 2024
According to the New York Post, the Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey was conducted on June 6-8. The sample of 425 likely Democratic voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.
According to the outlet, Latimer responded to the poll results, saying voters will have the chance to choose between his proven record of achieving progressive results and the incumbent’s history of divisiveness and hostility. He revealed early voting starts on Saturday and urged voters to use the opportunity to make their voices heard.
The outlet also reports that Bowman is part of a group of far-left House Representatives called “The Squad”. This group includes Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO).