Rep.-elect Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.-16)

Date of birth: April 1, 1976
Residence: Yonkers, N.Y.
Education: B.A., New Haven University; Master’s, Mercy College; Ed.D., Manhattanville College
Occupation: founder, Cornerstone Academy for Social Action
Family: wife, Melissa Oppenheimer; two sons, one daughter

Jamaal Bowman will join the ranks of a growing bloc of progressive Democrats in Congress in January, representing New York’s 16th Congressional District.

Like fellow progressive candidate Cori Bush, who’s also headed to Washington, Bowman’s real test came against the Democratic incumbent in the party primary, in his case longtime Rep. Eliot Engel. Bowman upset Engel easily, winning by more than 10,000 votes.

Before running, Bowman, 44, gained national attention as an educator and advocate against standardized testing. He also founded and was principal of the Cornerstone Academy for Social Action, a public middle school in the Bronx.

New York’s 16th Congressional District encompasses the northern part of the Bronx and well as a good chunk of Westchester County. Bowman’s district is in close proximity to New York’s 14th Congressional District, which is represented by progressive star Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D).

-Marty Johnson