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Edited by: Fern Sidman
Former New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman, who was ousted from office in a landslide Democratic primary defeat, has launched a Super PAC with a blatantly anti-Israel mission—targeting pro-Israel politicians for electoral defeat. The New York Post reported that the newly established “Built to Win” Super PAC openly declares its mission of “fighting for justice” from Yonkers to Gaza, a phrase that many see as a direct reference to Bowman’s continued opposition to Israel and its supporters in the U.S. government.
Bowman’s new venture comes after he suffered a decisive loss in his Westchester and Bronx-based district to pro-Israel moderate George Latimer, who defeated him by more than 10 percentage points. The New York Post attributes much of Bowman’s political downfall to his relentless hostility toward Israel, a stance that alienated Jewish voters, moderate Democrats, and many within his own party.
Bowman was unapologetically explicit about his anti-Israel mission when discussing his Super PAC’s goals. In an interview with City & State, Bowman made it clear that “Built to Win” will be used to target candidates who support Israel, particularly those who stand by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Bowman stated: “Any candidate that supports [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu and genocide more than their constituents, any candidate that’s tied up with corrupt crypto money, any candidate tied up with the real estate lobby as opposed to renters, we’re going to go after those candidates very aggressively.”
Bowman’s framing of pro-Israel policies as “genocide” is a well-worn talking point of anti-Israel activists, which has been widely condemned as inflammatory and misleading. Furthermore, his decision to conflate Israel advocacy with corruption and real estate interests has been criticized as a dangerous and dog-whistle-laden attack against Jewish political engagement.
Jewish leaders in Westchester County and beyond have strongly condemned Bowman’s new Super PAC.
Rabbi Jonathan Morgenstern, a leader in Westchester’s Jewish community and head of Young Israel of Scarsdale, did not mince words when speaking to The New York Post about Bowman’s latest endeavor: “Bowman is a true, authentic anti-Semite. The Super PAC shows his true colors. He’s tripling down on attacking the Jewish people and the only Jewish state. It’s disturbing and sad.”
Similarly, Liora Rez, the founder of StopAntisemitism, dismissed Bowman’s electoral influence and political future, highlighting his past campaign failures: “Even if someone wanted to get more anti-Semitic, anti-Israel candidates elected, it’s hard to imagine they’d give their money to a failure like Jamaal Bowman.”
Rez also reminded The New York Post that Bowman already squandered campaign donations in his losing race against George Latimer, making his credibility as a political strategist highly questionable.
Moreover, she emphasized that the American public overwhelmingly supports Israel, stating: “Americans overwhelmingly stand with Israel and the Jewish people, who have been a contributing and vital part of this great nation since its founding.”
Bowman’s anti-Israel activism has placed him at odds with many within his own party. New York State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs harshly criticized Bowman’s latest political maneuver.
In a statement to The New York Post, Jacobs stated: “Former Rep. Bowman would be better to devote his new PAC to helping underserved people in our communities as well as promoting the economic interests of working-class Americans instead of continuing his anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist advocacy in a pitiful attempt to retain even a drop of political relevance.”
