Bowman: Hillary Clinton’s support for challenger not a ‘major endorsement’

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) says he isn’t bothered by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s decision to endorse his Democratic primary challenger, Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

“I definitely wouldn’t call it a ‘major endorsement,’ with all due respect,” Bowman told CNN host Laura Coates in a Thursday night interview.

Bowman went on to list some notable endorsements he has received from colleagues in both chambers.

“I mean, we are endorsed by sitting U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren [D-Mass.], sitting U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders [I-Vt.] and the Minority Leader of the Democratic Party, [Rep.] Hakeem Jeffries [D-N.Y.],” he added.

Bowman and Latimer’s tense Democratic primary battle has divided Democratic lawmakers and aligned groups, particularly with regards to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has left thousands dead in Gaza.

Latimer has repeatedly voiced support for Israel, and Bowman was among a group of progressive legislators who supported a permanent cease-fire resolution soon after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israeli citizens.

“It‘s unfortunate that my opponent and unfortunately, Secretary Clinton, seem to both be out of touch with this district,” Bowman said later in the interview.

Early voting in New York starts Saturday for the June 25 primary election.

Clinton, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2016 against former President Trump, announced her support for Latimer earlier this week, joining former New York Gov. David Paterson (D), the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and former Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.).

“With Trump on the ballot, we need strong, principled Democrats in Congress more than ever,” Clinton wrote Wednesday on social platform X.

Other prominent progressive lawmakers have rallied around Bowman, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). He also has the backing of Planned Parenthood’s political arm, the Sunrise Movement and Justice Democrats.

Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders are scheduled to appear with Bowman at a campaign event in the Bronx on June 22.

“I love our endorsements, and they’re gonna help us win this race,” Bowman said in the CNN interview.

An Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill poll released Tuesday showed Latimer leading Bowman 48 percent to 31 percent, with 21 percent of respondents undecided. Voters surveyed were split between age groups — with more voters under the age of 40 backing Bowman, and more voters over the age of 40 backing Latimer.