Israel critic Bowman takes early lead as polls close in closely watched NY primary

Polls have closed in New York, where a hotly contested Democratic primary has focused attention on congressional attitudes toward Israel.

Jamal Bowman, a vociferous critic of Israel who represents the 16th District in the suburbs north of New York City, is facing a tough challenge from local leader George Latimer, whose campaign has been heavily backed by the America Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Early returns give Bowman a sizable lead with over 78 percent of the votes, though only some 5 percent of votes have been counted so far, the lions share of them from the Bronx, where Bowman is expected to perform better than in the wealthier suburbs of Westchester County to the north.

AIPAC’s allied super PAC has spent nearly $15 million on the primary, according to Federal Election Commission records. The cash paid for a torrent of ads attacking Bowman, who has accused the influential pro-Israel lobbying group of trying to buy the race.

The winner of the primary will be the prohibitive favorite to win in the general election. The district, which includes parts of Westchester County and a small piece of the Bronx, is a Democratic stronghold.

The primary fight has emerged as a case study of where Democratic voters might stand on Israel and has exposed the ever-simmering tensions between the party’s liberals and centrists.