Ex-NY Gov. David Paterson endorses Dem foe of ‘Squad’ Rep. Jamaal Bowman

Carl Campanile
·2 min read
Governor David Paterson speaks about the New York budget at a press conference in Manhattan Sunday, December 13, 2009, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., is seen in the U.S. Capitol after the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act vote on Friday, July 14, 2023, Pictured - George Latimer
Governor David Paterson speaks about the New York budget at a press conference in Manhattan Sunday, December 13, 2009, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., is seen in the U.S. Capitol after the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act vote on Friday, July 14, 2023, Pictured - George Latimer
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Ex-Gov. David Paterson, the first black New Yorker to serve as the state’s chief executive, is endorsing Westchester County Executive George Latimer to topple lefty “Squad” Rep Jamaal Bowman in the hotly contested June Democratic primary.

Paterson’s endorsement — to be formally announced Wednesday — is a coup for Latimer, a more moderate white Democrat taking on the lefty progressive Bowman, who is black.

Bowman, 48, needs to win overwhelming support among black voters to stave off the serious challenge from Latimer, 70, who’s been an elected official in various posts in Westchester County since 1987.

Ex-Gov. David Paterson is endorsing Westchester County Executive George Latimer to topple lefty “Squad” Rep Jamaal Bowman in the hotly contested June Democratic primary. Allison Joyce
Ex-Gov. David Paterson is endorsing Westchester County Executive George Latimer to topple lefty “Squad” Rep Jamaal Bowman in the hotly contested June Democratic primary. Allison Joyce

The 16th Congressional District includes parts of the north east Bronx as well as southern Westchester.

A source in the Latimer campaign confirmed that Paterson will endorse the county executive during a press conference on Wednesday.

Paterson’s endorsement — to be formally announced Wednesday — is a coup for Latimer, a more moderate white Democrat taking on the lefty progressive Bowman. Facebook
Paterson’s endorsement — to be formally announced Wednesday — is a coup for Latimer, a more moderate white Democrat taking on the lefty progressive Bowman. Facebook

Paterson on Tuesday declined to comment.

Bowman does have the support of state Sen. Jamaal Bailey, also the Bronx Democratic Party chairman, as well as House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and neighboring progressive Congresswoman and fellow Squad member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The two-term incumbent and former Bronx middle school principal also has the backing of the left-leaning Working Families Party and some influential unions representing nurses and other health care workers as well as District Council 37, the union for many New York City municipal workers.

Bowman, 48, needs to win overwhelming support among black voters to stave off the serious challenge from Latimer, 70, who’s been an elected official in various posts in Westchester County since 1987. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Bowman, 48, needs to win overwhelming support among black voters to stave off the serious challenge from Latimer, 70, who’s been an elected official in various posts in Westchester County since 1987. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Last week, the Jewish Democratic Council of America endorsed Latimer, who is staunchly pro-Israel while Bowman has been critical of the Jewish state amid the war in the Gaza strip following Hamas’ October 7 attack in Israel.

Paterson, who appears on WABC radio, has shifted to the right on issues such as crime and border security since leaving public office a decade ago.

He rapped Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) for refusing to back tougher sentences for shoplifters who assault retail workers and slammed President Biden’s poor handling of the border/migrant crisis.