Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) called “special interests” such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee a “threat to democracy” after Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) was defeated by his primary opponent, George Latimer, on Tuesday.
“This unprecedented sum of money, $20 million … we can not allow special interests, dark money, super PACs to buy congressional seats,” Pressley said while speaking with Joy Reid on MSNBC.
Bowman lost his reelection bid on Tuesday to Latimer, who received heavy financial backing from AIPAC, a pro-Israel super PAC. It was the most expensive House race in the nation’s history, with AIPAC donating more than $14 million alone to Latimer’s campaign.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Bowman and other members of the progressive “Squad” have been targeted by AIPAC this election cycle for their criticism of Israel. At first, Bowman tried to distance himself from the anti-Israel rhetoric, but he eventually criticized the Jewish state for its military campaign in Gaza, earning the ire of AIPAC and other groups.
With Bowman ousted from his seat, other House progressives have lost a key ally. Rep. Cori Bush’s (D-MO) race has also been selected by pro-Israel groups such as AIPAC as an opportunity to oust the Democrat.
