Voters Don’t Want ‘Performance Artists’: Dem Strategist Knocks Jamaal Bowman Following AIPAC Tirade

Democratic strategist Lis Smith knocked Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) ahead of Tuesday’s contentious primary contest for New York’s 16th Congressional District, remarking that voters “want leaders, not performance artists.”

The race for NY-16, which covers a portion of the North Bronx and a larger section of southern Westchester County, gained national attention as the candidates’ sparred over their views on the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

Bowman, once hailed as a symbol of a diverse new generation of progressive Democratic leaders, now risks being replaced by county executive George Latimer.

Speaking to Politico’s Emily Ngo, Smith, who has worked with senior Democratic candidates like Pete Buttigieg and Rep. Adam Schiff, quipped: “Voters want work horses, not show horses. They want leaders, not performance artists. When Democratic voters are presented with a choice, they go with Democrats who care more about getting things done than about being social media famous.”

Bowman’s remarks about Hamas and Gaza have sparked accusations of antisemitism against his campaign. He came under particular scrutiny for his tirade against the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) during a Get Out The Vote rally on Saturday. He told attendees: “We are gonna show f*cking AIPAC the power of the motherf*cking Bronx!”

AIPAC has spared no expense in pushing back at Bowman’s criticism of Israel. The election is already marked as “most expensive House primary ever” after AIPAC’s super PAC contributed $14 million to fight against the incumbent.

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