NEW YORK (PIX11) – U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Westchester County Executive George Latimer, the two candidates in the Democratic primary for New York’s 16th Congressional District, squared off in a debate on PIX11 Tuesday night.
New York’s 16th Congressional District includes a portion of Westchester County and part of the northern Bronx.
Bowman, a two-term incumbent, has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2021. Latimer has served as the county executive in Westchester since 2018.
The contentious debate became heated at times. The candidates debated a wide range of issues, including the economy, race, the war in Gaza, the migrant crisis and more.
Here are some key takeaways from the NY-16 Democratic primary debate on PIX11.
The Economy
The economy is the most important issue among likely Democratic primary voters in New York’s 16th Congressional District, according to a recent poll conducted by PIX11, Emerson College and The Hill.
Bowman supports the Ending Corporate Greed Act, federal legislation that he says would bring down inflation costs and make corporations “pay their fair share of taxes” to the economy.
“We need to hold corporations accountable for price gouging and make sure they are contributing their fair share to support our government so that we can reinvest in the American people,” Bowman said.
Latimer said the first thing lawmakers need to do is restore the SALT tax deduction for taxpayers.
“There are middle class homeowners that have lost a major financial benefit that they need to have restored,” Latimer said. “My intention is to shift the tax cuts from those that received it under Donald Trump to the middle class howeowners. Those are the ones who deserve it, and those are the ones that when they have additional money will recycle it into the economy.”
Bowman, Latimer respond to race-related allegations
Race-related topics have been invoked over the course of the campaign by both Bowman and Latimer. During the debate, both candidates were able to respond to allegations their opponent has made against them.
Last week, Bowman said Latimer used an “Islamophobic dog whistle” in a forum when he said Bowman’s “constituency is Dearborn, Michigan” while talking about outside sources of campaign funding.
In Tuesday’s debate, Latimer called Bowman’s Islamophobia claim “baloney.”
“The Islamophobic accusation comes from my mentioning of the words ‘Dearborn, Michigan,’ when I was citing where he was drawing support from. The reason why I used Dearborn, Michigan is not because of the Islamic presence there. It’s because Rep. [Rashida] Tlaib and he created a joint fundraising committee … in which money that she raises now can go into his campaign. That’s why I mentioned Dearborn, Michigan. It has nothing to do with Islamophobia.”
In their last debate, Latimer claimed Bowman ignores some constituents in the 16th District, saying Bowman doesn’t mention Asians or people who are not Black or brown.
Bowman responded Tuesday night by calling Latimer’s comment “a joke.”
“We’ve worked very closely with the Asian American community since we’ve gotten into office. We’ve stood up to anti-Asian hate in Scarsdale and other parts of the district. We represent the entire district, every corner of the district,” Bowman said. “The statement that I’m only representing part of the district is a joke.”
The war in Gaza
The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza is another issue that has divided the two candidates.
The war began after Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage. Israel’s bombing since Oct. 7 has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza.
Bowman has been critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza and said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “may be tried as a war criminal.”
“The United States Congress should not be sending weapons to Israel at this time because according to the International Court of Justice, there is a plausible genocide happening in Gaza right now,” Bowman said. “We need a permanent cease-fire, which includes the release of the hostages … [and] humanitarian aid getting into Gaza right now because a famine is setting in.”
Latimer voiced his support for Israel and denied that genocide is happening in Gaza.
“It is the unwillingness of Hamas to sit down at the table. President [Joe] Biden and Secretary [Antony] Blinken offered a program this very week that had the support of the United Nations and also had the support of Israel’s willingness to go along with it,” Latimer said.
The migrant crisis
More than 200,000 migrants have come to New York in the last two years. New York City and the state have spent billions of dollars assisting these men, women and children.
Earlier this month, President Joe Biden took executive action to limit the number of people who can claim asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Bowman said he has concerns over Biden’s executive action on the southern border. The congressman said he wants the U.S. to instead address the “root causes of mass migration.”
“I’m concerned about us taking a conservative approach to the border. I’m concerned about the executive action. When people are coming here, they are coming here seeking asylum, they are seeking safety. Our country has always been a place where people can come and seek asylum,” Bowman said.
Latimer said Biden’s executive action is a “step in the right direction,” but he believes the best way to address the border crisis is through legislative action.
“There does need to be additional border security. There needs to be a restructuring of the asylum system. There needs to be some path for citizenship. There also has to be some ability to control the amount of numbers that come into the country,” Latimer said.
This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press.