To the editor:

Westchester County Executive George Latimer is running to unseat U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, Westchester’s first Black representative in the House, in New York’s 16th congressional district. Whatever our political differences, we should understand that how Latimer is financing his campaign is bad for democracy. A super PAC has already spent more than $13 million to promote Latimer. Donors have pledged to spend up to $25 million on his campaign, which would make this the most expensive congressional primary race in American history. Such extreme spending undermines the fairness, transparency and accessibility of our democracy. PACs and lobbying groups, from oil and gas to insurance, spend millions on their candidates to push unlimited advertising, manipulate public opinion and shape the national agenda. They promote outcomes that may have nothing to do with what most Americans actually want. To put it simply, this is not a level playing field. Working class families cannot donate such large sums to their favorite politicians or causes. While I don’t place my highest hopes in politicians, I would much rather have Bowman, with his working class background, in office. I certainly will not place my trust in Latimer, who has taken large donations from the same donors who have supported former President Donald Trump (a convicted felon), voter suppression and even the Jan. 6 insurrection. This shows how little regard his campaign has for true democracy.

Zehra Parvez

137 Seventh Ave.