Latimer holds wide lead over Bowman in tense New York primary: Poll

Westchester County Executive George Latimer holds a 17-point lead over Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) in a tense Democratic New York House primary, according to a new poll. 

A survey by Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill released Tuesday found Latimer leading Bowman in the primary for New York’s 16th Congressional District with 48 percent support to 31 percent, with 21 percent of respondents undecided.

The poll found that 51 percent of respondents have a favorable view of Bowman, compared to 43 percent who have an unfavorable view of the House Democrat. In comparison, 65 percent said they have a favorable view of Latimer, while 23 percent had an unfavorable view of the county executive.  

“Voters under 40 break for Bowman: 44% to 35%, while voters over 40 break for Latimer,” Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, explained in a press release.  

“Democratic primary voters ages 40-59 break for Latimer 53% to 31%, while voters in their 60s break for Latimer 46% to 29%, and voters over 70 break for Latimer 53% to 22%.” 

The numbers underscore the challenge the two-term incumbent faces ahead of the June 25 primary as he fights for reelection. Bowman was dogged by unflattering headlines last year after the House censured him for pulling a fire alarm during a key vote on government funding. He was also charged with a misdemeanor following the incident, though the House Democrat has argued that it was a mistake. 

The Democratic primary between Latimer and Bowman has divided Democrats and key groups. The pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee has backed Latimer in the primary, and former Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.), who’s also fighting for a congressional seat this cycle, ruffled feathers when he backed Bowman’s opponent.  

Meanwhile, progressive members such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.), and other high-profile groups like the powerful United Auto Workers, have thrown their weight behind Bowman.  

The seat is reliably blue, meaning whoever wins the Democratic primary later this month is the heavy favorite to win in November.

The Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey was conducted June 6-8 with 425 likely Democratic primary voters in the New York 16th Congressional District. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.