Congressional Progressive PAC rescinds endorsement of Mondaire Jones amid Jamaal Bowman dustup

The Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC has revoked its endorsement of former Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.), a House candidate who faces backlash over not backing Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) in his primary race.

“A number of factors led to the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC rescinding the endorsement of Mondaire Jones,” Evan Brown, the PAC’s executive director, said in a statement to The Hill. “This was a unanimous decision of our PAC board.”

The PAC did not detail the reason behind the choice, though the decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of Jones, who endorsed Bowman’s primary challenger, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, earlier this week.

Jones, who is running in New York’s 17th Congressional District this cycle, told The New York Times this week he could not stand by and do nothing as Bowman upped his criticism of Israel amid its war with Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

“As someone who is among the most popular Democrats in the Hudson Valley, it is my prerogative to play a dispositive role in ending this long, painful nightmare that we have been experiencing since Oct. 7,” Jones told the Times, adding there is “nothing progressive about rushing to call for a cease-fire in the days following Oct. 7.”

Jones’s campaign confirmed to The Hill he was notified Wednesday night of the revoked endorsement “due to” his endorsement of Latimer.

“I have no regrets about standing up for what I firmly believe in. I have known and worked with George Latimer for years. I used to represent thousands of people in what is now New York’s 16th Congressional District, and have deep relationships there,” Jones said in a statement. “Rep. Bowman and I have very different views on Israel.”

“Over the past few months, I have had countless conversations with Jewish residents in my district and across the Lower Hudson Valley who feel anxiety, anger, and fear due to Rep. Bowman’s words and actions,” he continued. “I will always stand up for my Jewish constituents.”

Bowman was among several progressives in the House to support a cease-fire resolution in the early days following Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 250 others were taken hostage. The calls to pause fighting have gradually expanded among other lawmakers as the death toll climbs in Gaza.

At least 36,000 people in Gaza have been killed since early October, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The Hill reached out to Bowman’s office for further comment.

Other progressives rallied in support around Bowman this week, including fellow New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D), who said “Dem unity means supporting Bowman.”

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said she was appalled by Jones’s decision, while Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) described it as “disgusting,” Semafor reported.

Jones lost his seat in the House in 2022 but is vying to unseat Rep. Mike Lawler (R) in New York’s 17th congressional district. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as “toss up Republican,” with a score of D+3.