After years of failed makes an attempt, anti-Squad forces lastly beat a progressive Democratic incumbent.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s (D-N.Y.) defeat by the hands of Westchester County Govt George Latimer struck a bitter blow to the Democratic Get together’s far-left flank. Latimer beat Bowman by 17 share factors. However Latimer’s win isn’t simply replicated throughout the nation. Right here’s a take a look at the distinctive dynamics behind Bowman’s loss.
Thousands and thousands in exterior spending by AIPAC. The sixteenth District main was the costliest Home main of all time, because of greater than $14 million in spending from AIPAC’s tremendous PAC. This cycle is the primary yr that the pro-Israel foyer’s tremendous PAC, the United Democracy Undertaking, is investing closely in main campaigns.
The professional-Latimer overwhelming spending benefit was an unprecedented increase for the challenger. As we skilled throughout a reporting journey to the district final week, assault adverts hitting Bowman dominated the native airwaves.
Bowman’s many controversies. Make no mistake: AIPAC wouldn’t have devoted thousands and thousands of {dollars} to a main problem except the incumbent was already susceptible. Exhibit A: The group barely backed fellow Squad member Rep. Summer time Lee’s (D-Pa.) main opponent earlier this spring.
However Bowman stood out as a chief goal due to the litany of detrimental headlines that hampered him. Bowman pulled a hearth alarm throughout a Home vote in 2023. Bowman trafficked in 9/11 conspiracy theories in an outdated weblog. Bowman speculated that stories of Hamas terrorists raping Israelis on Oct. 7 had been “propaganda.” (He later apologized). Bowman voted towards two of President Joe Biden’s signature legislative compromises — the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation and the Fiscal Accountability Act.
What’s extra, Bowman confronted inner criticism in his district that he wasn’t targeted sufficient on native points.
Latimer’s deep native ties. Oftentimes challengers to Squad members are written off as outsiders attempting to parachute into the district. However that criticism doesn’t maintain water with Latimer, a fixture in Westchester politics for many years. Latimer received the endorsement of quite a few native officers and capitalized on his excessive title recognition to successfully marketing campaign.
Subsequent up for AIPAC’s tremendous PAC is the Aug. 1 main that pits Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) towards UDP-backed challenger Wesley Bell. UDP is signaling that it’s prepared to closely make investments once more to unseat Bush. Bell is the St. Louis prosecuting legal professional and is seen as a critical contender to knock off Bush, who’s beneath DOJ investigation for hiring her husband as a safety guard.
In different main information:
→ Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) defeated former President Donald Trump’s endorsed candidate to win the Republican Senate main in Utah.
→ Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah) is forward of GOP challenger Colby Jenkins by simply 4 factors. Maloy, who was elected in November, had Trump’s endorsement. Jenkins had the backing of Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).
→ Former CNN anchor John Avlon received the Democratic nomination to tackle susceptible Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) within the 1st District. Within the twenty second District, state Sen. John Mannion will face endangered GOP Rep. Brandon Williams.
→ Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) received the Republican main for Colorado’s 4th District, efficiently switching districts and avoiding a probably powerful normal election rematch towards Adam Frisch within the third District. Republican Greg Lopez received a particular election within the 4th District to fill the remainder of former Rep. Ken Buck’s (R-Colo.) time period.
Put collectively, the victories by Latimer, Curtis and Maloy point out that the middle is holding in 2024.
Additionally: The Home will think about three FY 2025 appropriations payments this week — Protection, State-Overseas Operations and Homeland Safety. The Home Guidelines Committee has made 329 amendments so as. Not all of those amendments will get a vote on the ground. Right here’s the checklist of amendments.
There are a big quantity of technical amendments geared toward particular applications, particularly on the Protection invoice. There are additionally a slew of “tradition struggle” amendments from hardline conservatives within the Home Freedom Caucus.
Plus, some Republicans need to minimize the salaries of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin and Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to only $1. Different Biden administration officers are additionally focused. This received’t occur.
One modification that received’t be thought-about: Montana GOP Rep. Matt Rosendale’s provision that will bar the Pentagon from spending cash on IVF. Rosendale mentioned IVF is “morally improper.”
All three spending payments are opposed by Home Democratic leaders, and the White Home has threatened a veto in the event that they ever get to Biden’s desk.
— Max Cohen and John Bresnahan