What's behind push for Jewish voters to change parties to vote in Bowman-Latimer primary?

A group planning to mobilize Jewish voters in Westchester County for a key congressional primary in June is launching the first stage of its campaign as an early deadline for voters to switch parties approaches.

That multi-pronged effort, dubbed Westchester Unites, will urge Jewish voters who aren't registered as Democrats to formally enroll in that party by Feb. 14 so they can vote in the June 25 Democratic primary between Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

"Community over party," proclaims a new website, westchesterunites.org, with instructions about how to change party enrollment. "Antisemitism is on the ballot."

Teach Action Fund, the group waging the campaign, says it's spending $250,000 on a Democratic enrollment push that will use every means to reach voters, including the website, mailings, phone banks and door-to-door canvassing. Its first mailing is set to arrive soon in voter mailboxes across New York's 16th Congressional District.

The group says it's focusing its efforts largely on Democratic-leaning independents. But its message applies equally to Republicans and voters from other parties as well: in New York, only voters enrolled in a particular party may cast ballots in that party's primary.

"Our goal is to ensure as many people as possible are able to participate in the Democratic primary," Rebecca Zisholtz, a spokewoman for Teach Action Fund, told the USA Today Network.  "While some people may want to suppress the vote, we are proud of this effort to help empower as many voters as possible, and we think our system is stronger when more people have the ability to vote."

The website and mailer don't mention the two candidates. But the clear context for anyone following the race is the backlash against Bowman by the Jewish community for his criticism of the Israeli government — a rift that has become a chasm since the Oct. 7 massacre of Israelis by Hamas terrorists and Israel's military response in Gaza.

The group's website urges voters to "send a message that our community stands together."

"There’s a critical election on June 25 that will be decided in the Democratic primary," it reads. "We must take a stand and ensure the election of a candidate to Congress who values the safety and well-being of the Jewish community."

How did Bowman's camp react?

Bill Niedhardt, a spokesman for Bowman's campaign, cast the enrollment push as part of an effort by Latimer's supporters to enlist Republicans in a Democratic race. He noted the fundraiser held for Latimer on Sunday at the Westchester County home of a Republican who has made campaign donations to Donald Trump, Rep. Elise Stefanik — the New Yorker who leads the House Republican conference — and other Republicans.

"Democratic primaries should be decided by members of the Democratic party, which is why it is disappointing that George Latimer has held fundraisers with Republican Trump donors and has relied on allies calling on Republicans to vote in the primary election," Neidhardt said in a statement to the USA Today Network.

Voter drive: Jewish group plans voter turnout drive in Westchester as Bowman-Latimer primary looms

He also accused Latimer and his supporters of dividing Democrats "when we must unite around flipping back the House and defeating Donald Trump."

Campaign part of larger effort aimed at Jewish voters

The party-switch push accompanies a larger campaign by Teach Coalition — a multi-state organization run by the Orthodox Union — to register and mobilize Jewish voters in Westchester County for the 16th District primary and other 2024 elections. Teach Coalition, which will soon staff an office in New Rochelle, has vowed to spend up to $1.6 million on its efforts.

Teach Action Fund is an affiliated entity formed last year with a different non-profit tax designation that grants greater leeway for political activity. Teach Coalition is forbidden by law from endorsing candidates.

The group can continue to sign up new voters long after the Feb. 14 deadline for those who already are registered to change parties. Under state law, new voters can register as late as June 15 to cast ballots in the June 25 primary.

The heavily Democratic 16th District consists of the southern half of Westchester County and Wakefield neighborhood of the Bronx. Bowman has represented the district since 2021 and is seeking a third term. Latimer has held various offices in Westchester for 35 years and is serving his second and final term as county executive.

A third Democrat, Marty Dolan, also plans to run for the seat.

Clashing Dems: Westchester heavyweights Bowman, Latimer spar over their records, Israel as primary looms

Jewish groups out in force for Bowman, too

Bowman, a progressive supported by the Working Families Party, also now has the backing of a liberal Jewish group that says it helped elect him in 2020, when he waged an insurgent campaign to unseat longtime Rep. Eliot Engel.

Jews for Racial & Economic Justice Action, a New York-based organization that claims 6,000 members and calls itself "the home of New York's Jewish left," formally endorsed Bowman for re-election on Wednesday. The announcement was made by its campaign arm, The Jewish Vote.

"We know him to be a compassionate and moral leader who has time and again shown his commitment to representing all of his constituents,” Howard Horowitz, a member of the group who lives in Bowman's district, said in a statement.

Teach Action Fund says its goal is to spur as many as 40,000 Jewish voters to cast ballots in the June 25 primary. That is roughly the total number of Democrats who cast ballots in the last 16th District primary in 2022, which Bowman easily won.

Dan Mitzner, political director for Teach Action Fund, lamented that turnout in that race was only about 15%.

"That’s bad for the district, bad for democracy, bad for the country, and bad for accountability," Mitzner said in a statement.  "With unchecked hate against the Jewish community on the rise, now is the time for the community and our allies to come together to participate in record numbers and take a stand against extremism."

See a mailer from Westchester Unites here.

Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA Today Network. Reach him at cmckenna@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New twist in Bowman-Latimer primary: push for voters to change parties