Gov Kathy Hochul slams Jamaal Bowman over his Israel stance ahead of the Democratic primary, Internet says 'Latimer is the better choice'

BRONX, NEW YORK: Governor Kathy Hochul voiced critical remarks about Rep Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) shortly before the Democratic primary on Tuesday, and early voting data indicates that the progressive member of the 'Squad' may encounter obstacles in his bid for reelection.

During an appearance on CNN's ‘State of the Union’ on Sunday, Gov Hochul stated that she had not taken a side in the competition between Bowman and moderate candidate George Latimer, the Westchester County executive, according to the New York Post.

However, when asked about the congressman's accusation that the Jewish military committed "genocide" in Gaza, Hochul made it clear that she disagreed with Rep Bowman's stance on the Israel-Hamas war.

What did Governor Kathy Hochul say regarding Rep Jamaal Bowman?

“I stand strongly with Israel,” Hochul said.

“I went to Israel after Oct. 7. It was traumatizing still to see the images of women who were raped and what the country endured,” the Democrat governor added.

Rep Jamaal Bowman apologized last week for his remarks, made at a November anti-Israel rally, in which he called reports of rapes and child murder by Hamas militants in Israel on Oct 7 a "lie" and "propaganda."

At the same time, Jewish constituents in parts of the 16th District, spanning from Co-Op City in The Bronx through much of Westchester, cast their votes in significant numbers through mail-in ballots or early in-person voting which might spell trouble for Bowman.

According to organizer Bruce Schanzer, nearly 80% of registered Democrats who are members of the Young Israel synagogue of New Rochelle, specifically 676 out of 873, had participated in the voting process, either through mail-in ballots or early in-person voting.

“Antisemitism is on the ballot,” said Schanzer, a Young Israel of New Rochelle congregant.

“We are American Jews who support Israel – the only liberal democracy in the Middle East. Bowman hasn’t represented the district well, and that was before October 7,” he said.

Schanzer acknowledged the assistance of the Teach New York Coalition/Westchester United group, a branch of the Orthodox Jewish Union, in establishing a system to track whether registered Democratic congregants voted in the primary. If they didn't, they would receive a notification.

According to a representative from Teach New York, four other synagogues in Westchester already had at least 50% of their Democratic congregants vote.

Election data provided to the aforementioned outlet showed that 15%, or 3,537, of registered Democrats in New Rochelle had voted by Saturday.

In Greenburgh, an area expected to favor Latimer, 17%, or 4,102 Democrats, had already voted.

Bowman is anticipated to perform well in the 82nd Assembly District in the Bronx, which includes Co-Op City, where over 2,000 people have already voted. 

The incumbent faced criticism after holding a poorly received rally on Saturday with fellow left-wing 'Squad' Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Meanwhile, Bronx Representative Ritchie Torres stated that Bowman should be ashamed of his inappropriate behavior during the event.

“The level of profanity here is so shocking as to be unbecoming of a Member of Congress,” Torres said in a statement on X. “There is nothing in Jamaal Bowman’s unhinged tirade that remotely resembles the decency of the people I know and represent in the South Bronx.”

Internet mocks Jamaal Bowman

One X user remarked, "Latimer is the better choice."

Another user said, "Is time to clean the house in the Bronx from this incompetent politician." 

Another user quipped, "See ya, Jamaal. Don’t forget to pull the fire alarm when the numbers are not going your way."

One user wrote, "She doesn’t want to be accused of pressing fire alarms. The left are good at devouring their own."

Another X user claimed, "Hochul is racist & Bowman is a f**king clown."

Finally, this user tweeted, "Morons, a Democrat will hold the seat regardless."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.