The Democratic primary in New York’s 16th District between Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) and George Latimer is officially the priciest House primary campaign of all time. Here’s a breakdown of the top three ads playing on the district’s airwaves ahead of the Tuesday primary, thanks to analysis from our friends at AdImpact.
No surprise: Given the $14 million-plus that AIPAC’s super PAC has poured into the race, the United Democracy Project is behind the top three ads.
#1: United Democracy Project ad: “Progressive Results.” Total spend: $3.2 million.
AIPAC’s super PAC is by far the top spender in the race. The group’s biggest spend is in this positive ad that hails Latimer’s results as the executive of Westchester County. The spot touts Latimer’s work on infrastructure, gun control and abortion rights.
“George Latimer is putting people ahead of personal agendas and delivering real progressive results,” the ad’s narrator says.
#2: United Democracy Project ad: “His Own Agenda.” Total spend: $2.8 million.
UDP’s second-biggest spend is on an attack ad slamming Bowman as a self-interested politician who is at odds with President Joe Biden.
The ad highlights Bowman’s votes against both the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law and the debt-limit deal. Bowman has said his infrastructure vote was a tactical one to make sure the full Build Back Better plan also advanced.
“Jamaal Bowman has his own agenda and he’s hurting New York,” the narrator concludes.
#3: United Democracy Project ad: “Attacks.” Total spend: $2.6 million.
The UDP ad with the third most money behind it again hits Bowman for his differences with Biden. The spot features the infrastructure and debt-limit votes. The ad also flags an instance where Bowman accused Biden of lying by not pushing police reform through Congress.
Bowman’s response: The most the Bowman camp has spent on a single ad is $500,000 on a spot called “Making Progress Together.”
In the ad, a constituent blasts Latimer for receiving money from “Donald Trump’s mega-donors.” Bowman says that his lived experience in public housing and underfunded schools motivated him to fight for progress in D.C.
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