The primary for New York’s 16th congressional district, which takes place on Tuesday, has drawn record-breaking spending, with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) and a crypto-currency Super Pac behind the lion’s share of the funding.

The two are battling to represent a district that spans parts of the Bronx and Westchester county. Latimer is leading in polling, and if he wins, he will be the first challenger to successfully unseat a member of the progressive “Squad”.

The huge haul of outside spending – most of it funding ads attacking Bowman and supporting Latimer – underscores Bowman’s precarious position as a high-profile “Squad” member whose criticism of Israel and outspoken support for Palestinian rights has drawn the ire of the pro-Israel lobby.

But the race is more than a referendum on Israel-Palestine policy. It’s also a test of the fledgling progressive wing of the Democratic party, whose ranks Bowman joined after winning an upset primary victory in 2020 and defeating former representative Eliot Engel, an incumbent who had held the office since 1989.

Among Bowman’s highest-profile supporters are the senator Bernie Sanders and the representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (known as AOC), who will appear at a rally on Saturday to turn out voters for the incumbent. Meanwhile, Latimer has earned the support of the former secretary of state and Democratic party establishment stalwart Hillary Clinton.

  • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) and a crypto-currency Super Pac

    Ok, well I’d definitely be voting for the other guy if I lived in that district.

        • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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          4 months ago

          So, you’re fine with the fascists winning because you’re too good and pure to actually do anything?

          The system isn’t perfect, but it’ll get worse if people do nothing.

          • ripcord@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            Last time I contributed I ended up on a list and I still get half a dozen text messages a week begging for money.

            Lately several seem like obvious scams.

            But I refuse to donate to a candidate if they only reach out to ask for money. And I’m definitely not contributing if I get put on a goddamn spam list.

            • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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              4 months ago

              You can just contribute to ActBlue itself. I’ve been supporting them for years and never get any spam.