Jewish Democrats go to war with The Squad: Coalition goes against Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush by backing their primary opponents

The Jewish Democratic Council of America announced a new batch of candidate endorsements for 2024 and it includes backing the primary opponents of two members of The Squad.

The JDCA announced it's endorsing House candidate George Latimer for New York's 16th District seat just north of New York City in the primary against Congressman Jamaal Bowman.

It is also backing the candidacy of Wesley Bell who is running the the primary to unseat Congresswoman Cori Bush in Missouri's 1st District in St. Louis.

The two primary challengers endorsements on Thursday were  part of a larger group of candidate endorsements by the Jewish Democratic group as it vows to mobilize Jewish voters ahead of November to help election Democrats.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., speaking at a news conference calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in November 2023

Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., speaking in Washington at a demonstration on October 18

It comes as Bowman and Bush have been vocal critics of Israel in its ongoing war in Gaza after the Hamas terror attack on October 7.

Latimer is currently the Westchester County Executive and a former New York state Senator and assemblyman. He formally launched his bid for the seat in December arguing Bowman was good at getting attention but less so at getting results.

Bowman has also faced criticism from Jewish groups more recently over his calls for a cease-fire and for boycotting the Israeli President Isaac Herzog's speech to Congress last summer.

Wesley Bell announced he was running in the primary for Missouri's first district seat in St. Louis in late October.

He originally was running in he state's Democratic Senate primary but announced he would challenge Bush instead following her criticism of Israel after the Hamas attack. 

Bell was elected St. Louis County Prosecutor ousting the longtime incumbent in 2018. He previously served as a public defender and on the city council. 

George Latimer is running against Rep. Bowman in the New York 16h Congressional District primary. He is the Westchester County Executive 

Wesley Bell is the St. Louis County Prosecutor and is running against Rep. Bush in Missouri's 1st Congressional District Democratic primary

In endorsing Bell and Latimer, as well as the other slate of candidates, JDCA President Ron Klein slammed the 'incompetence' of Republicans and 'extremism' of Donald Trump, calling it dangerous for Jewish Americans. 

He said the endorsees 'not only share our fundamental values as Jewish Americans, but they are experienced leaders who stand fervently against the right-wing extremism that puts our community at risk.'

The JDCA PAC is launching a $1.5 million mobilization campaign and is focused on mobilizing Jewish voters to help elect Democrats.

In total, the group has endorsed 83 candidates in the cycle as well as President Biden and Vice President Harris' reelection. 

Other endorsements on Thursday included Senate candidates Ruben Gallego in Arizona, Adam Schiff in California, Elissa Slotkin in Michigan, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in Florida and Colin Allred in Texas.