Jamaal Bowman has made missteps in his political career, such as dismissing reports of Israeli women being raped on Oct. 7 as propaganda and using the term “Zionist” as an insult. While he still supports a two-state solution, he has alienated some Jewish constituents with his comments about segregation and has been accused of insensitivity. However, the campaign against him has also been ugly and racist, with opponents accusing him of only caring about his “Black and brown” constituents and using derogatory language against him on social media. Despite this, Bowman continues to speak out about the suffering in Gaza, but his anti-Zionist rhetoric has raised questions about his political strategy.
At a rally with Bernie Sanders, Bowman faced opposition from some residents who worried about “paid agitators” disrupting the community. The turnout at the rally was modest, with many of Bowman’s supporters living outside of the district. Micah Sifry, an organizer who helped found Jews for Jamaal, pointed out that Bowman’s weakness lies in neglecting relationship building with critical communities, such as the Jewish community in his district. While Bowman is vocal about the suffering in Gaza, his recent anti-Zionist rhetoric, such as calling Israel a “settler-colonial project,” has raised concerns about his political motives and whether he is more focused on being a political martyr than winning elections.
Despite condemning the Democratic Socialists of America for promoting a rally that glorified attacks, Bowman sought the group’s endorsement and expressed support for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement against Israel in a private meeting. This decision puzzled many, as aligning with the anti-Zionist movement contradicts Bowman’s public statements that he believes in Israel’s right to exist. By associating himself with the boycott movement, Bowman fuels the fears of his critics in the local community. The Democratic Socialists of America is also unlikely to help him win votes in the 16th District, where Bernie Sanders performed poorly in the 2020 election compared to New York as a whole.
Bowman’s missteps and the ugly campaign against him have highlighted the challenges he faces in his reelection bid. While he has spoken out about important issues, such as the suffering in Gaza, his anti-Zionist rhetoric and insensitivity to certain communities have undermined his support in the district. The rally with Bernie Sanders was attended by a modest crowd, indicating that much of Bowman’s base resides outside of the 16th District. To succeed in his reelection campaign, Bowman will need to focus on building relationships with critical communities and local constituents, rather than alienating them with controversial statements and actions. By addressing these concerns and working to broaden his base of support, Bowman may improve his chances of winning the upcoming election.
