Jamaal Bowman
Jamaal Anthony Bowman (born April 1, 1976) is an American politician and educator serving as the U.S. representative for New York's 16th congressional district since 2021. The district covers the southern half of Westchester County, including Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and Bowman's hometown of Yonkers, as well as a small portion of the Bronx.
Jamaal Bowman | |
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Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 16th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Eliot Engel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 1, 1976 Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Working Families Party Democratic Socialists of America (until 2022) |
| Spouse | Melissa Oppenheimer |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Yonkers, New York, U.S. |
| Education | University of New Haven (BA) Mercy College (MA) Manhattanville College (EdD) |
| Website | |
Bowman is the founder and former principal of the Cornerstone Academy for Social Action, a public middle school in Eastchester, Bronx. He defeated 16-term incumbent Eliot Engel in the 2020 Democratic primary and was first elected to Congress that fall. Bowman is a member of the Squad, an informal group of progressive House Democrats. He was a member of the Lower Hudson Valley chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America until 2022, when he departed the organization over disagreements on policy regarding Israel.
On October 26, 2023, Bowman pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for willfully setting off a false fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building. In exchange for his guilty plea, the charge was dropped. On December 7, 2023, the House of Representatives voted 214–191 to censure him in connection with the fire alarm incident.