New Yorkers can’t catch a ballgame, a TV show or browse social media without seeing ads in this hotly-contested New York House race.
A record-shattering $23 million in advertising has been spent so far on the Democratic primary pitting “Squad’ Rep. Jamaal Bowman against Westchester County Executive George Latimer.
“The #NY16 primary is one week away. It’s seen over $23M in spending and reservations, making it the most expensive House primary ever,” said campaign advertising tracking firm Ad Impact.
A Super Pac affiliated with the Israel American Public Affairs Committee, United Democracy Project, has spent a staggering $14 million in ads — 61% of the total — mostly pounding Bowman, a critic of the Jewish State.
The figure includes digital ads on the web and social media as well as TV and radio spots.
The AIPAC group’s barrage — which included spots attacking Bowman for his vote against President Biden’s infrastructure law, as well as his hostility toward Israel — dwarfs the ad spending of all other groups combined.
Pro-Latimer forces together outspent those backing Bowman more than 5 to 1.
Latimer’s campaign has spent $2.54 million in ads and a pro-Latimer, anti-Bowman cryptocurrency group called Fair Shake bankrolled another $2.14 million.
That means the pro-Latimer forces have spent nearly $19 million in a bid to topple Bowman, who is seeking a third term in the 16th Congressional District encompassing much of Westchester and parts of the northern Bronx.
By comparison, the Bowman campaign has spent $2 million on ads, the pro-Bowman leftist group Justice Democrats paid for $1million and the Working Families Party, $538,000.
The spending on the New York race shatters the previous record for most expensive ad spending for a House primary in Oregon’s 6th House District — $17.8M in 2022, an Ad Impact spokesman said.
The New York race is the most closely watched in the country — a microcosm playing out between the Democratic socialist progressive left in Bowman and the more moderate wing represented by Latimer, the popular Westchester County executive.
The split in the party — and the candidates — has been the Israel-Hamas war.
Latimer has been a big booster of Israel and its retaliatory response in Gaza to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on the Jewish State, while Bowman has accused the Israel military of committing “genocide.”
Overcoming the avalanche of anti-Bowman ads will be a big challenge to his campaign’s get out the vote operation that includes foot soldiers from leftist allies such as the Democratic Socialists of America and the Working Families Party.
“My opponent has sold out to AIPAC and their right-wing billionaires. They’re spending millions to try and buy our district. They may have the money but we have the power of the people. #WeDecide the future of NY-16, not them,” Bowman said in a statement Wednesday on X.
“This is the many versus the money and we will win,” he said.
Campaign strategists said Bowman — who will participate in rallies with fellow Squad member and neighboring Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and democratic socialist Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on Saturday — has an uphill climb.
“It will be hard for the organized left to overcome a voting record that appears out of sync with this district. Not just on Israel but on supporting President Biden’s infrastructure bill,” said Democratic strategist Chris Coffey.
“You see lots of mainstream Democrats supporting Latimer, which is near unheard of against an incumbent democrat. “
Coffey said the Democratic left is “pulling out all of the stops to try and hold on” but polling and the money, as well as voter registration, favors Latimer.
“A great ground game might be worth a couple points and folks on the far left might be slightly more likely to vote, but Latimer seems to be far enough ahead that it should still be advantage Latimer,” he said.
A recent Emerson College/Pix 11 poll had Latimer ahead of Bowman by 17 points.
“This is a real test for the Democratic Socialists beyond this election,” said campaign consultant Hank Sheinkopf.
A victory for Latimer will embolden the pro-Israel lobby and weaken the anti-Israel DSA — which supports the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against the Jewish State — in future elections including the race for mayor and council in New York City next year, he said.
A Bowman victory will electrify the political left and the anti-Israel movement, he added.
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