The early results for the Democratic primary 16th Congressional District spelled trouble for the incumbent Representative Eliot Engel - the chief of the House Foreign Affairs Committee known for his hawkish views and strong commitment for U.S.-Israeli ties.
According to the New York state elections board, so far, Engel received only about 35 percent of the votes, while his challenger, Jamaal Bowman, won some 61 percent.
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Democratic Representative Eliot Engel of New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
(Photo: AP)
The tide could still turn in Engel's favor as the thousands of mail-in votes that are yet to be counted could account for more than half of the overall votes, changing the initial calculus.
Nevertheless, as the first results were announced, Bowman came out with a victory speech on Tuesday, saying that "a Black man with power" is "what Donald Trump is afraid of."
Bowman has emerged as a representative of the progressive wing of the Democratic party, endorsed to take on Engel by Senator Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a firebrand New York progressive who claimed 70% of the votes in New York's 14th Congressional District.
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Jamaal Bowman speaks to attendees during his primary-night party Tuesday, June. 23, 2020, in New York
(Photo: AP)
Ocasio-Cortez, who is also known by her nickname AOC, is part of the so-called "Squad" along with Representatives Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib - an informal group of lawmakers with a reputation for an affinity to criticize Israel.
Bowman was also backed by the IfNotNow - a left-wing Jewish group that lambasted Engel for allegedly being "on the wrong side of history."
Engel, in his turn, won the endorsements from Hillary Clinton and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, seen as the figureheads of the moderate Democratic establishment, which now has its power tested by the more left-leaning new blood.