#Rep. Eliot Engel loses Democratic primary to progressive Jamaal Bowman

Jamaal Bowman has defeated veteran Rep. Eliot Engel, unseating the powerful chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in a stunning upset, according to the Associated Press.

Bowman, a progressive former middle school principal backed by the Justice Democrats, triumphed over Engel, a 16-term congressman, more than three weeks after the New York Democratic primary took place on June 23.

The AP called the race on Friday morning.

Engel, 73, had been besieged by gaffes and accusations he was missing from his Bronx-Westchester district as the coronavirus pandemic raged.

Bowman declared victory the day after the primary but Engel’s campaign was counting on a record number of mail-in ballots cast amid the pandemic to help him overcome his challenger’s commanding lead.

But Bowman’s lead expanded during the weeks-long counting of absentee ballots in New York’s 16th Congressional District and by Friday the contest was over with the progressive candidate 16-points ahead.

In a statement, Bowman promised to “cause problems” in Washington, a sign that the outspoken left flank of the Democratic Party, headed by Bronx Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is growing.

“I’m a black man who was raised by a single mother in a housing project. That story doesn’t usually end in Congress. But today, that 11-year old boy who was beaten by police is about to be your next Representative,” Bowman said in a statement.

“The world has changed. Congress needs to change too. But if we can take on entrenched power and wealthy interests here in Westchester and the Bronx, then we can do it all across this country,” he continued.

“I’m ready to get to work. I cannot wait to get to Washington and cause problems for the people maintaining the status quo.”

His upstart victory is reminiscent of Ocasio-Cortez’s unexpected toppling of powerful incumbent Joe Crowley in 2018 in the neighboring Bronx district.

It also shows the congresswoman’s rising influence in the party, with Bowman one of three progressive AOC-backed candidates in the New York primary who ultimately won.

Mondaire Jones, an openly-gay African American attorney, was also declared the victor in New York’s 17th Congressional District after a landslide win and is almost assured to be headed to Congress.

Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, an entrenched Democrat first elected in 1994, also conceded the Democratic Primary race last month to AOC-endorsed challenger Marcela Mitaynes.