Mondaire Jones is sorry, not sorry about endorsing against Jamaal Bowman

NEW YORK — Former Rep. Mondaire Jones abruptly became persona non grata to lefty Democrats last week after he endorsed a bid to unseat congressional Squad member Rep. Jamaal Bowman.

But he really and truly has no regrets, he said in an interview.

One-time House allies and former aides have taken turns excoriating Jones as a political opportunist, the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC rescinded its endorsement of him, the New York Working Families Party is pulling its financial or organizational support for him and City & State reported that he rejected then-Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney’s offer to withdraw from the 2022 primary. (Jones called the story manufactured, but the outlet published a follow-up.)

Speaking with POLITICO over chili at a diner in New York’s Hudson Valley, the Democrat seeking a return to Congress said the progressives lambasting him were never his friends in the first place and the district lauds him for backing pro-Israel George Latimer over Israel critic Bowman.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Last week seemed like a very bad one for you.

These people were never my actual friends. And we saw that in the way they treated me in the summer of 2022 when in spite of a progressive record on issues like health care, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, Supreme Court reform and climate action, they either abandoned me or affirmatively worked against me.

Was all the backlash worth it?

I would not do anything differently. I mean that sincerely. The appreciation that people have in these actual communities in the Hudson Valley is what matters to me. That as well as my own sense of morality compelled me to intervene, given how God-awful Mr. Bowman’s conduct has been.

How do you respond to those who say you’re not a true progressive?

I just have been through so much, growing up the way I did, unlike these trust fund socialists in Williamsburg and elsewhere suggesting that I’m not progressive enough. More than anything, I’m focused on the most important election of our lifetimes.

Are you counting on national Democrats to have a short memory?

To be honest with you, I want people to remember what I did this past week. I do want people who have been criticizing me on the left to understand the existential significance of my race to take back the House.

How is the national perspective different from the district perspective?

Mr. Bowman’s specific actions have caused anxiety, fear and anger among my Jewish neighbors. That is why what people are saying outside of the district — whether on social media or in blog posts or elsewhere — is so at odds with the reality that I live as an actual member of this lower Hudson Valley community.

Why did you weigh into the Bowman-Latimer primary when you could have stayed neutral?

When will people engage with my critique of Mr. Bowman for dismissing Hamas’ sexual assault of Israeli women on Oct. 7 as “propaganda”? When will people engage with my critique of him for going out of his way to get an endorsement by DSA?

But can you deny that standing against Bowman improves your chances against GOP Rep. Mike Lawler in November?

It is extraordinary that while I am calling out the extremes in my own party and outside of the party — because let’s be honest, many of the people don’t even identify as Democrats on the far left — Mike Lawler has been attacking the criminal conviction of Donald Trump and as of this weekend reaffirming his support for Donald Trump.

You moved from the Hudson Valley for a 2022 House race in New York City and you’re back in the Hudson Valley for this election. Are you here for good?

Yes, yes, yes.

A version of this interview first appeared Monday in New York Playbook. Subscribe here.