Westchester exec George Latimer blasts Rep. Jamaal Bowman for refusing to condemn Hamas

Westchester County Executive George Latimer ripped Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) for voting against President Biden’s infrastructure bill and a resolution condemning Hamas in his primary campaign launch video released Wednesday. 

“Unfortunately, instead of working for us, our congressman is making news for all the wrong reasons,” Latimer, 70, says of Bowman, a member of the far-left “Squad” of congressional lawmakers. 

Latimer, who told The Post last month that he’s “a strong supporter of Israel,” goes on to critique the 16th District incumbent over his votes against resolutions condemning Hamas. 

Bowman, 47, was among 22 House Democrats who voted against a November resolution condemning the support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher learning.

The resolution was introduced after a nationwide wave of antisemitic protests, vandalism and outright support for the Middle Eastern terror groups on college campuses in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. 

The congressman was also one of only nine Democrats to vote against an October resolution declaring that the House of Representatives “stands with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists” and “condemns Hamas’ brutal war against Israel.” The resolution also called for the safe release of all hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza. 

Latimer’s 2-minute ad goes on to criticize Bowman over his opposition to the Biden-backed $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which passed and was signed into law by the president in November 2021. 

“Instead of helping our communities with flooding and infrastructure, he put his own personal politics ahead of progress – one of just six Democrats to vote against it,” Latimer says in the ad. 

The Westchester County executive goes on to accuse Bowman of not voting for the legislation “just to stick it to our Democratic president.”

“That’s not how we solve our toughest problems,” Latimer argues. 

Bowman said at the time that he voted against the infrastructure bill – which directed some $170 billion to the Empire State for highways, airports, rail and mass transit – because it didn’t include a more expansive social-spending framework. 

Latimer, who is in his second term as county executive, filed his campaign paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Monday.  

His primary challenge against Bowman is one of several key battles against members of the “Squad” in 2024. Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), and Summer Lee (D-Pa.) are all facing stiff challenges from the center of their party.