Jamaal Bowman Is Defeated In His Congressional Primary, No Thanks to AIPAC

By Dustin Rowles | Social Media | June 26, 2024 |

By Dustin Rowles | Social Media | June 26, 2024 |

Rep. Jamaal Bowman was blown out by George Latimer in the most expensive Congressional primary ever. Last fall, Bowman embarrassed his district by pulling a false fire alarm in the House building. A member of the left’s Squad, Bowman is an outspoken progressive and a fierce critic of Israel. Meanwhile, Latimer, a moderate, was heavily funded by the pro-Israel SuperPAC, AIPAC, which funneled $15 million into his campaign.

While ostensibly bipartisan, AIPAC is also the biggest source of GOP donations in Democratic campaigns. Essentially, the SuperPAC exists to defeat candidates who do not support Israel, and they clearly saw Bowman’s defeat as a victory. But here’s the thing: AIPAC started funding Latimer’s campaign in March when polls showed the progressive down by 17 points. In last night’s race, he lost by 17 points.

AIPAC’s money was unnecessary. Essentially, the SuperPAC did something Trump often does: back the candidate already winning and then take credit for the victory. Latimer didn’t need all the extra help.

Is this a stinging rebuke for the progressive wing of the party, as the narrative goes? Because Cori Bush — another member of the Squad — is also getting trounced in polls in her Congressional race in Missouri, and AIPAC is supporting her opponent. But like Bowman, Bush was already underwater due to a Justice Department investigation into misuse of campaign funds. Essentially, AIPAC is picking on two incumbents who were already getting their asses kicked and then taking credit.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won the primary in her district by 60 points, so this probably has less to do with a rebuke of the progressive movement and more to do with a rebuke of unpopular candidates who had already gotten themselves into trouble.

Meanwhile, sadly, Lauren Boebert won her primary handily in Colorado in a multi-candidate race. She is likely to win the general this fall in a heavily Republican district.

That said, several Trump-backed candidates did lose last night, including the Colorado Republican, Dave Williams, who called upon his supporters to burn Pride flags. A nurse practitioner, Sheri Biggs, also defeated a Trump-endorsed pastor, Mark Burns, in a runoff for the GOP nomination in a South Carolina House race. Meanwhile, a more moderate Republican won the primary against a Trump-backed candidate for the Senate seat being vacated by Mitt Romney in Utah.

In other news today, President Biden will pardon thousands of U.S. veterans convicted of having gay sex while serving in the military, which could help many recover military benefits otherwise lost. Elsewhere, Judge Aileen is actually poised to rule against a Trump request to throw out evidence in the classified documents case based on a suggestion that the FBI used false information to justify the search of Mar-a-Lago. Newly released photos from a search of Mar-a-Lago also reveal what a messy bitch Donald Trump is.

The trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich for espionage begins today in Russia. He has been in prison for 15 months. He faces up to 20 years in the sham trial.

Finally, unlike a lot of Republicans — like Bill Barr — who say they think that Donald Trump is a threat to Democracy but still plan to vote for him, Adam Kinzinger has actually come out and endorsed Joe Biden this morning.

Post by @griffinkyle

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