Latimer criticizes Bowman for missing procedural House vote

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly framed and described a vote on a procedural House resolution this week. It was not a vote on the National Defense Authorization Act, as previously stated, nor was it a key vote that depended on the attendance of Rep. Jamaal Bowman to pass or defeat the resolution. To make these corrections, this story has changed significantly from the previous version.

As the Democratic primary for the 16th Congressional District heats up, Westchester County Executive George Latimer’s campaign criticized Rep. Jamaal Bowman for missing a procedural House vote related to a controversial defense bill.

Yesterday, 207 House Dems voted against the National Defense Authorization Act, which among other things further restricts the ability of servicemembers & their families to access abortion care. Jamaal Bowman missed the vote, causing it to pass by 1 single vote.

— George Latimer (@LatimerforNY) June 13, 2024

Ahead of their scheduled debate Wednesday evening in New York City, Bowman missed a rules vote – a procedural resolution that defines the debate parameters for a bill – related to the National Defense Authorization Act, a funding package for the military which Republicans have turned into a vehicle for culture war attacks on issues like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.

The resolution passed by a single vote, although 10 Republicans and six Democrats (including Bowman) were not present for the party-line vote.

Asked about missing the vote, Bowman said in a statement Thursday that he informed House leadership in advance that he would not be present at the vote. 

“We’ve been in touch with the whip’s office and have communicated our plans well in advance, and I am confident that the Senate will strip out the MAGA-aligned amendments, just as they did last year,” Bowman said. “However, MAGA threatens our democracy at every level, including right here in my district, where the same donors funding Donald Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene are spending the most money in a primary ever to support my opponent.”