Hillary Clinton backs Jamaal Bowman’s opponent in New York primary

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton waded into the New York 16th Congressional District race by endorsing incumbent Rep. Jamaal Bowman‘s (D-NY) primary challenger, a move that conflicts with progressives rallying around their fellow “Squad” member.

In a social media post on Wednesday, Clinton announced she was backing Westchester County Executive George Latimer, a centrist Democrat who is hoping to unseat Bowman as the Democratic nominee during the June 25 primary.

“With Trump on the ballot, we need strong, principled Democrats in Congress more than ever,” Clinton, herself the quintessential establishment Democrat, wrote on X. “In Congress, @LatimerforNY will protect abortion rights, stand up to the NRA, and fight for President Biden’s agenda—just like he’s always done. Make a plan to vote by June 25th!”

“I’m honored to have the support of @HillaryClinton, whose decades of service are an inspiration,” Latimer wrote in response.

The Democratic primary has grown contentious as Bowman has faced backlash over his support of pro-Palestinian protests that have erupted across the nation, which has angered Jewish allies and cost him key endorsements.

The split over the Israel-Hamas war has seen mainstream Democrats, who are more likely to be unequivocal in their support of Israel, and progressives openly warring with one another.

In one notable example, one of the nation’s most influential pro-Israel groups, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, has invested nearly $2 million into Latimer’s campaign and, by the time of the primary later this month, will have spent nearly $25 million in the race.

But Bowman’s allies on Capitol Hill have come to his aid, with Squad Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) donating $500,000 to Justice Democrats’s expenditure arm as it seeks to protect Bowman from AIPAC. The group filed on Tuesday that it would spend $250,000 in TV ad buys supporting Bowman.

“We need to have the backs of Democrats who have repeatedly taken a stand against those who take money from Trump donors and those who accept the help of groups who support insurrectionists,” Tlaib posted on X on Wednesday in urging donations to her “friend” Bowman.

Fellow New Yorker Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) will hold a “GOTV Rally” to boost Bowman before the primary, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also expected to make an appearance.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus recently rescinded its endorsement of former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones, who endorsed Latimer over his former colleague, a move that infuriated left-leaning Democrats.

Bowman also boasts the backing of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), the United Auto Workers, and the Working Families Party.

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The New York congressman won election in 2020 after he first unseated longtime former Rep. Eliot Engel in the Democratic primary. Since then, he has become one of the more well-known progressives in the House, in part for illegally pulling a fire alarm during votes in September and being censured by his colleagues after pleading guilty to the misdemeanor.

The Washington Examiner reached out to the Bowman campaign for comment.

Rachel Schilke contributed to this report.