Democrat Jamaal Bowman wins race to replace Eliot Engel in 16th Congressional District

Democrat Jamaal Bowman has won the 16th Congressional District seat and will replace Rep. Eliot Engel.

News 12 Staff

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Nov 4, 2020, 6:44 AM

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Updated 1,274 days ago

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Jamaal Bowman, an antiestablishment liberal who defeated a long-term incumbent in the Democratic primary, has been elected to Congress.

Bowman defeated Conservative Party candidate Patrick McManus, a retired firefighter, in a district that includes parts of the Bronx and Westchester County.

There was no Republican candidate.

The 44-year-old Bowman set the stage for his election victory with a stunning primary win over U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Engel has been in Congress since 1989.

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During the campaign, Bowman spoke about growing up Black in public housing, being beaten by police officers at age 11, becoming a teacher and then a principal deeply involved in education reform.

Bowman’s insurgent campaign against Engel was launched with the help of Justice Democrats, the same left-leaning group that helped power U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to a victory over another powerful incumbent in 2018.