Political newcomer Jamaal Bowman has defeated longtime incumbent Congressman Eliot Engel for the Bronx and Westchester’s 16th District, early numbers show.
Now with 698 of 732 districts reporting, the progressive candidate has declared victory with a 27,174 to 15,372, equating to a roughly 26 point victory over Engel, according to unofficial results from the New York State Board of Elections.
“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 said upon his proclamation of victory.
Bowman, a Bronx middle school principal living in Yonkers was endorsed by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, along with many other big name progressive politicians as well as The New York Times heading into today’s Democratic primary.
Meanwhile Engel secured the endorsement of Hillary Clinton as well as Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Governor Andrew Cuomo along with many other establishment Democrats this year; he has also chaired the house’s foreign affairs committee in his most recent of sixteen congressional terms.
While Bowman was ahead comfortably earlier this evening, he spoke in a victorious manner while calling on accountability for politicians that protect corporate interest over fighting poverty and other institutional injustices.
“The results show this district is demanding change,” he said at a watch party that State Senator Alessandra Biaggi also spoke during.
Bowman added that he “cannot wait to get to congress and cause problems for the people who have been maintaining a status quo that is literally killing out children,” mentioning that his team made over one million calls during the campaign – 1.3 million he precisely estimates.
As a former educator, Bowman stands for dismantling common core curriculum in schools, housing reform, the new green deal, medicare for all, justice reform along with other progressive ideologies.
