First Squad member Jamaal Bowman ousted from Congress despite AOC's last-ditch effort to save him

Democrat George Latimer has beat out incumbent progressive Rep. Jamaal Bowman. 

Bowman is the first 'Squad' member to be unseated, putting the future of the hardcore progressive faction on shaky ground. 

Latimer is a former state legislator who has served as Westchester County executive since 2018. He's the favorite to win in November in the Democratic stronghold.

Bowman's loss does not bode well for anti-Israel voices in Congress.  His district is partly affluent, white and Jewish in Westchester and partly black and brown voters in the Bronx. 

Bowman was one of the first to demand a ceasefire and has flirted with conspiracies about Israel, prompting even some within his own party to accuse him of antisemitism. 

'Jamaal Bowman should pull the fire alarm again because he is going to be smoked by [Latimer] today,' former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D, wrote on X. 

'The message is clear: anti-semitism in any and all forms will not be tolerated in New York. And you can’t call yourself a progressive without making progress.'

The powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has poured $15 million into the campaign against Bowman. 

'We are going to show f***ing AIPAC, the power of the motherf***ing South Bronx!' Bowman yelled Saturday at a rally with fellow progressive 'Squad' member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

The former principal who once pulled the fire alarm in the Capitol during votes has lost the support of at least one colleague: Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., came out in support of Latimer on Monday. 

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also jumped into the race on Latimer's side - as did former Rep. Mondaire Jones, D-N.Y., a progressive and fellow member of the Congressional Black Caucus. 

Jones soured on Bowman over his criticisms of Israel. He is expected to win a Democratic nomination  

In a final debate with Latimer on Tuesday, Bowman, 48, who is black, went after Latimer for his close ties to AIPAC and claimed he slow-walked desegregation as Westchester County executive.

'He claims to be a Democrat, but he is supported by racist MAGA Republicans who support taking your voting rights — gutting your abortion rights,' Bowman said. 

'This is an example of using race as a weapon,' Latimer shot back. 'What we need to do is bring people together.' 

Last week Bowman came under fire for a new report claiming he asked a Jewish leader to send him photos of them together to prove he has Jewish friends. 

A private text between Bowman and an unidentified Jewish leader from when Bowman first ran for re-election in 2022 was published by Jewish Insider on Tuesday. 

'Do you have pics of us? So I can show the world I'm friends with Jewish People,' Bowman wrote, according to the report. 

The leader did have a photo with Bowman, but did not share it with the congressman. 

'I was uncomfortable,' the Jewish leader said of the awkward message. 'I kind of joked around with him about it. I said, 'Oh, I'm sure you guys have it. Don't worry about it.' 

'I was like, 'I don't want to be his court Jew,' he said. 'That wasn't what I signed up for.'