Jamaal Bowman loses New York primary and becomes the first member of the House ‘squad’ to be ousted after George Latimer’s victory

NEW York City Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman lost the primary.

The outspoken liberal member of Congress was challenged by opponent, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who is now running for the House seat in November.

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Latimer was named the winner by the Associated Press at 9:38 p.m.

The AP called the race for AOC at 9:05 p.m., just five minutes after polls closed in New York.

Bowman is now the first member of the “squad,” which includes Rep. AOC and other progressive lawmakers of color, to be ousted in the Democratic primary.

Before being elected to Congress in 2020, Bowman was an educator.

He worked as a crisis management teacher at a South Bronx elementary school before founding Cornerstone Academy for Social Action, a public middle school in the Bronx, New York.

Bowman was elected representative in 2020 and served two terms before being defeated in 2024.

After Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, Bowman began to rage against Israel and call for a permanent ceasefire.

He also referred to Israel’s airstrikes that led to the deaths of thousands of Palestinian citizens as “a genocide,” pushing for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ouster, according to NBC.

Because of his strong beliefs, the pro-Israel group American Israel Public Affairs Committee used nearly $15 million in ads — more than any House primary in history — to unseat Bowman and instead support Latimer, NBC reported .

However, Latimer is an outspoken supporter of Israel – in stark contrast to Bowman.

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Latimer, who has held public office since 1987, was endorsed by Hillary Clinton during her run for congressman.

‘unbalanced’

During his rally on Saturday, Bowman used profanity to attack the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

“Let’s show the fucking AIPAC, the power of the fucking South Bronx!” Bowman said, according to Fox News.

“People ask me why I’m talking bad. What should I do? You’re coming after me! You’re coming after my family! You’re coming after my children! Shouldn’t I fight back?

“Let’s show them who the hell we are!” he said, jumping across the stage.

Rep. Ritchie Torres called the congressman’s actions “unbalanced.”

“The level of profanity here is so shocking that it is unbecoming of a member of Congress,” Torres, he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“There is nothing about Jamaal Bowman’s unhinged speech that remotely resembles the decency of the people I know and represent in the South Bronx.”

At another point in the rally, Bowman, who was wearing a yellow shirt, began shaking a wooden stool and encouraging a chant, saying: “Ceasefire now! Ceasefire now!”

However, this wasn’t the first time Bowman did something that caught the public’s attention.

In 2023, Bowman was caught on camera pulling a fire alarm at the Cannon House Office Building before the House voted on a government funding bill, according to CNN.

He said he was trying to get through the door and thought the alarm would open it.

Bowman was later charged with a misdemeanor, but it was dropped when he pleaded guilty, paid the maximum $1,000 fine and wrote an apology to the Capitol Police.