Record-breaking ad spending in NY-16 primary as Election Day draws near (2024)

A New York congressional primary is breaking ad spending records, with Election Day now just around the corner.

So far, roughly $24 million has been spent on ads— including TV, radio, satellite and digital— in New York’s 16th District Democratic primary in which incumbent Rep. Jamaal Bowman faces a challenge from Westchester County Executive George Latimer,according to data compiled by the group AdImpact.

That outpaces the nearly $18 million spent in the 2022 primary contest in Oregon’s 6th District, which now ranks second.

Two other competitive Democratic primaries in New York are likewise seeing extensive— though by no means record-setting— fundraising and spending.

NY-16

The bitter16th District primary matchupis drawing national attention, with Bowman, a member of the progressive "squad," staring down a possible ouster from Congress.

The war between Israel and Hamas has become a central theme of the campaign. Bowman is an outspoken critic of the Israeli government’s handling of the conflict. Latimer has been outspoken in his support for Israel.

The AIPAC-affiliated United Democracy Project superPAC is driving the record-setting spending, pouring $14 million into the contest to both boost Latimer and attack Bowman, according to AdImpact. AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, lobbies for pro-Israel policies.

Progressive-leaning groups like Justice Democrats and the Working Families Party have also invested in the race, but their spending pales in comparison to the United Democracy Project.

The #NY16 primary is one week away. It's seen over $23M in spending and reservations, making it the most expensive House primary ever.

Here's an updated look at top spending advertisers, as AIPAC-affiliated group United Democracy Project makes up 61% of total spending. pic.twitter.com/DGpQXJNtiG

— AdImpact Politics (@AdImpact_Pol) June 18, 2024

Bowman has criticized AIPAC’s investments,saying during the Spectrum News debate, “The reason why our democracy doesn't work for working class people and the majority of the American people is because of big money in politics. [Latimer] is running a big money campaign … Their one issue is Israel. Not Mount Vernon, not the Bronx, not New Rochelle, not Port Chester, not White Plains, not Tuckahoe.”

Latimer labeled the invocation of AIPAC a “dog whistle” and said, “There's parts of this district that [Bowman] has flat out ignored, and those are the people that are donating to my campaign because they don't feel they have a congressman who represents them.”

According to FederalElection Commission filings, as of June 5,Bowman had raised $4.3 millionthis election cycle.Latimer raised $5.8 million.

NY-1

InNew York’s Suffolk County-rooted 1st Congressional District, John Avlon, a former CNN commentator, is facing off against Nancy Goroff, who was previously the Democratic nominee in the district four years ago. The winner will take on incumbent Republican Congressman Nick LaLota this fall.

Overall, $3.7 million has been spent on ads in this race, according to AdImpact.

So far this cycle, Avlon has raised $1.76 million, while Goroff has raised $1.05 million, according to FEC filings.

In the most recent fundraising quarter, which stretched from April 1 and June 5, Avlonraised $622,000.Goroff brought in $126,000, and loaned her campaign about $1.2 million.

Citing that loan, Avlon’s team is accusing Goroff of trying to buy the race.

“All of Nancy Goroff’s money and attempts to buy this primary can’t change a simple fact: John Avlon is the only candidate creating real excitement and enthusiasm, has all the local support and is the only Democrat that can flip this seat and help the Democrats take back the majority,” Avlon campaign manager Bryan Sokolowski said in a statement.

Asked about the loan, Goroff’s campaign invoked the political action committee Welcome PAC, which is supporting Avlon, spending more than $1.5 million on ads and other outreach— by far the biggest outside spender in the race, according todata compiled by OpenSecrets.

In a statement, Goroff campaign manager Maggie Touchton said, “It's laughable for former Rudy Guiliani advisor John Avlon to make claims of bought elections when a dark money outside group funded by the Murdochs is literally spending over $1.5 million to buy this seat for him.”

NY-22

In the Syracuse area, state Sen. John Mannion and DeWitt Town Councilor Sarah Klee Hood arevying for the Democratic nominationto take on incumbent Republican Congressman Brandon Williams.

Overall, more than $2 million has been spent on ads in this primary, according to data compiled by AdImpact.

So far this election cycle,FEC filings show Mannion hasbrought in roughly $866,000, compared with$1.35 million raised by Klee Hood.

Eighty-nine percent of Mannion’s fundraising comes from within New York state, while only 41% of Klee Hood’s does,according to an analysis by OpenSecrets.

Mannion invoked that statistic at a recentSpectrum News debate, saying “the donations that I receive show that I have that local support, that people trust me.”