Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) appeared to fault progressive former Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.) for not backing their fellow New York Democrat Rep. Jamaal Bowman in his primary race.
Ocasio-Cortez reposted an article Tuesday from The New York Times that reported Jones’s endorsement of Bowman’s primary challenger, George Latimer. She called on Democrats to unite behind Bowman in her post on social platform X to ensure he wins his reelection bid.
“Jamaal Bowman has earned support across the entire Democratic Party – from House leadership and the Congressional Black + Progressive Caucuses to Labor + grassroots – bc he is a proven, effective,& beloved leader. Dem unity means supporting Bowman. That’s how we win in November,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote.
In his interview with The New York Times, Jones explained he could not stand by and do nothing as Bowman became critical of Israel amid its war against 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, which noted he plans to make his endorsement official Tuesday.
Jones criticized Bowman in his interview, saying there is “nothing progressive about rushing to call for a cease-fire in the days following Oct. 7.”
Many progressives, including Bowman and Ocasio-Cortez, supported a cease-fire resolution in the early days of the Israel-Hamas war.
Other Democrats also criticized Jones for turning on Bowman in his reelection bid, according to Semafor. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said she was “appalled,” while Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) said it was “disgusting.”
Bowman said in a statement he was proud to have “built strong coalition” together when reached for comment on the endorsement.
“I will always stand up for our shared democratic values to serve all the people in this district — especially in the face of right-wing, billionaire-funded lobbies that seek to divide us,” he said.
Jones lost his seat in the House in 2022 but is now running for Rep. Mike Lawler’s (R-N.Y.) seat in New York’s 17th congressional district.
The Hill has reached out to Jones’s campaign for comment.