Poll shows Latimer leading Bowman by 17 points

A newly-released Emerson College/PIX11/The Hill poll in the Democratic Primary for New York’s 16th Congressional District shows that Westchester County Executive George Latimer is leading incumbent Rep. Jamaal Bowman by 17 points. Latimer is shown to have support from 48% of Democratic voters while Bowman has 31%. There were 21% who said they are undecided.

However, when the voting population is broken out by age, Bowman receives 44% of those under 40 while Latimer has 35% of that segment.

“Democratic primary voters ages 40-59 break for Latimer 53% to 31%, while voters in their 60s break for Latimer 46% to 29%, and voters over 70 break for Latimer 53% to 22%,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.

The polling also showed that Black voters break for Bowman, 48% to 34%, and white voters for Latimer, 62% to 20%. Hispanic voters are split evenly, with 36% supporting Bowman and Latimer respectively.

The poll found that 51% percent have a favorable view of Bowman, while 43% have an unfavorable view of him. For Latimer, 65% have a favorable view while 23% have an unfavorable view.

On other areas, the poll found that President Joe Biden holds a 69% job approval among Democratic primary voters, while 23% disapprove of the job he is doing. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has a 55% job approval, while 26% disapprove of the job she is doing in office.

The economy (22%) and housing affordability (21%) are the top issues for Democratic primary voters in the district, followed by threats to democracy (14%), healthcare (13%), crime (12%), and immigration (6%).

Half (50%) of Democratic primary voters think the U.S. government is spending too much on aid to Israel in the war with Hamas, a third (33%) think the U.S. is spending the right amount, and 17% think the U.S. is spending too little. Regarding humanitarian relief to Palestinians in Gaza, 46% think the U.S. is spending too little, 34% the right amount, and 21% too much.

The Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey of the New York 16th Congressional District Democratic primary was conducted June 6, 7 and 8. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.7%.