Yet another liberal super PAC is throwing its weight behind primary challengers to House “Squad” members Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush following their criticism of Israel amid its war against Hamas.
The Democratic Majority for Israel PAC, armed with an estimated $3 million cash on hand, formally endorsed Westchester County Executive George Latimer and St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell against Bowman and Bush, respectively, on Wednesday.
Bowman, 48, is facing a spirited contest from Latimer ahead of the June 25 contest for the 16th Congressional District, which encompasses parts of southern Westchester and northeast Bronx.
DMFI PAC Chairman Mark Mellman praised Latimer in a statement as “a proud pro-Israel Democrat whose impressive record of public service and results-oriented leadership is respected throughout New York.”
“We look forward to helping Mr. Latimer in his campaign to defeat Congressman Jamaal Bowman, whose troubling track record includes demonizing and delegitimizing Israel and efforts to damage the US-Israel relationship, while failing to address his constituents’ concerns about the alarming rise of antisemitism in their communities,” Mellman added.
Earlier this year, Bowman lost the endorsement of left-wing Jewish advocacy nonprofit J Street after appearing with noted antisemite Norman Finklestein, who wrote that the Oct. 7 terror attack by Hamas “warms every fiber of my soul.”
Bowman was also recorded in November referring to Israel as an “apartheid” state and insisting that reports of rapes and child murders during the jihadist bloodletting were “a lie.”
“No surprise that another Republican megadonor-funded Super PAC aligned with AIPAC is coming in to support our opponent with millions of GOP dollars,” responded Bowman campaign spokesperson Lawrence Wang in a statement to The Post, referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
“They will keep collecting Donald Trump’s donors, we’ll keep shoring up our core Democratic base.”
Turning to Bush — who, with Bowman was one of the earliest members of Congress to call for a cease-fire days after the Hamas attack — Mellman called out her “opposition to the Democratic agenda and longstanding enmity towards Israel was underscored by her vituperative statements and votes since the October 7th terrorist attacks.
“We’re going to do everything we can to help Wesley Bell defeat Congresswoman Cori Bush,” she added.
Missouri’s Democratic House primary is slated for Aug. 6.
“Courting endorsements from DMFI and AIPAC is nothing more than a blatant attempt to undermine the will of voters and remove not only St. Louis’ first Black [sic] Congresswoman from office but an effective leader and legislator who has delivered nearly $2 billion in investments for her district,” a Bush campaign spokesperson said.
Last week, the Jewish Democratic Council of America also endorsed Bell and Latimer, the first time it had backed challengers to incumbent House Democrats.
In addition to their inflammatory anti-Israel statements, both Bush and Bowman are mired in legal and ethical controversies, with the Missourian facing scrutiny over her use of campaign cash to hire her now-husband for security services and Bowman pleading guilty to a misdemeanor for pulling a fire alarm to delay a congressional vote last year.
Still, House Democratic leadership is largely standing by the “Squad” members. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has endorsed Bowman and refrained from backing a challenger to Bush.
Other “Squad” members who are facing primary challengers include Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Summer Lee (D-Pa.), but so far, the DMFI PAC hasn’t endorsed their rivals.
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