WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Voters within the Bronx and Westchester County decided the 16th Congressional District race between Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Westchester County Executive George Latimer, and it wasn’t shut.
Latimer trounced the two-term congressman in a carefully watched Democratic major, the costliest in historical past.
“Our present congressmember didn’t match the district and our new congressmember to be is an ideal match,” Assemblywoman Amy Paulin mentioned.
CBS New York caught up with the winner on Wednesday morning in White Plains.
“This was not a victory the place there’s any ambiguity as to what nearly all of folks felt. He made the purpose of claiming he has the various and the cash. Properly, it turned out I had the various,” Latimer mentioned.
Latimer’s stance on Israel helped him
Latimer has been broadly supportive of Israel for the reason that Oct. 7 assault by Hamas, even visiting the nation.
“Israel is a rustic that has a proper to exist,” Latimer mentioned throughout the marketing campaign. “In the end, if there’s going to be peace within the area, there must be a two-state answer, which entails, , an Arab state alongside of it. However there must be a willingness for the gamers to decide to peace on either side and, , frankly, Jamaal had a special angle about that.”
A lot of Latimer’s voters mentioned they have been motivated by Bowman’s harsh criticism of how Israel is preventing Hamas. By one estimate, election turnout within the Jewish group approached 60%.
“Very excessive curiosity within the race. Going again even, I am going to say, earlier than Oct. 7, there was discontent with Jamaal Bowman representing us in Congress,” mentioned Jeff Levin of Scarsdale.
Bowman’s previous harm him
Native critics say Bowman was good at making headlines — generally, like the fire alarm incident, for the flawed causes.
However many say he misinterpret the district by embracing left wing politics.
“We’re going to damage the nation if we simply let it change into a debate between the far left and the far proper,” Latimer mentioned.
Latimer mentioned he guarantees a laser-focus on constituent companies. Critics say Bowman by no means constructed an efficient workers to assist residents with Social Safety and different federal points.
“He did not get again to them, or his workers did not get again to them,” Deputy CountyExecutive Ken Jenkins mentioned.
Jenkins mentioned elections in the end are a referendum on the incumbent.
“It is a soul-searching mission to go backwardso and see why issues occur, and it is not blaming another person. It is actually wanting within the mirror,” Jenkins mentioned.
