George Latimer, who’s challenging Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) in the Democratic primary in New York’s sixteenth congressional district, defended a controversial commentary he made in a debate this month.

The race has develop into the most costly House major in historical past due to out of doors spending from professional-Israel groups such because the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and affiliated firms. More than $23 million has been spent on the race thus far. The majority of the cash has been spent in opposition to Bowman, who has been critical of Israel’s siege of Gaza in response to the Oct. 7 terror attacks.

Right through a debate previous this month, Latimer accused Bowman of raising cash from outdoor the district.

“When you get as a lot money as you get from out of doors the district, your constituency is Dearborn, Michigan. Your constituency is San Francisco, California,” Latimer mentioned. Dearborn has a big Arab American inhabitants, and critics seized on the remark with Bowman accusing Latimer of the usage of an anti-Arab “dog whistle.”

Latimer appeared on Monday’s model of The Supply on CNN where he defended his remark.

“You were criticized for announcing that he had a constituency in Dearborn, Michigan, which has a mostly– a large Arab inhabitants,” host Kaitlan Collins stated. “Folks were pronouncing that these have been racist feedback. Do you stand by what you in the beginning stated?”

“Neatly, let me get the quote right,” Latimer replied. “What I mentioned at the time used to be, he has raised cash from places like San Francisco and Dearborn, Michigan. That’s correct reality because what he did is create a joint fundraising organization with Representative [Rashida] Tlaib who’s primarily based in Dearborn, Michigan. So it’s not town of Dearborn. It’s that Representative Tlaib is from there. She’s been raising money. I believe she transferred a half of one million partially to him.”

“But do you see how folks noticed it that approach given – clearly Dearborn is so distinguished and identified for its massive Arab population?” Collins spoke back.

“No,” Latimer shot again. “I think what you had is my opponent needed to misrepresent what I mentioned. And while you’ve misrepresented to make it sound like I’m choosing on a municipality with an ethnicity versus his commitment to enroll in fundraise with Consultant Tlaib. That’s what I actually said.”

Latimer, who has said he opposes tax hikes on the wealthy, picked up the endorsement of Hillary Clinton past this month.

Watch above via CNN.

The submit Jamaal Bowman’s Challenger Defends Comment That Critics Attacked as ‘Racist’ first seemed on Mediaite.