Cori Bush become second member from “Squad” to loose 2024 democratic spilt over Israel

The radical member of the House known as “the Squad,” Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., lost a Democratic primary to a more moderate opponent on Tuesday night, marking her second defeat of the year in her area.

Congressman Bush, who is serving his second term, lost the Democratic primary for Missouri’s First District to St. Louis prosecutor Wesley Bell, who was supported by a significant pro-Israel organization. According to the organization ad impact, the campaign for Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s Bronx-area seat earlier this year was the most costly House primary ever. This race was the second most expensive in American history.

Bell emphasized the several inquiries into Bush’s campaign funds and attempted to portray her as out of touch with her voters over the lengthy campaign. But more than anything else, Bush’s criticism of the Israeli leadership ended up defining the campaign.

Bush, an activist and certified nurse, was the first congressman to demand a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas nine days after the latter group attacked Israel on October 7. She has continued to accuse Israeli leaders of genocide ever since and has been a staunch opponent of how Israel has handled the conflict.

More than $8 million was spent on the race by the United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, to support Bell’s effort to unseat Bush in the corridors of Congress. A political action committee known as Justice Democrats, which has criticized US assistance to Israel, revealed that it has contributed almost $2 million to Bush’s campaign.

There have been other races in 2024 where AIPAC has been involved besides the St. Louis primary. The organization has thrown its support behind a number of candidates running against some of the more outspoken Democratic senators who have criticized Israel’s conduct of the Gaza War.

Bush’s squadmate Bowman lost the Democratic primary in his district in July to a more centrist opponent whose campaign received support from outside funding. In that contest, the United Democracy Project invested almost $7 million. During a Monday night fundraising call, Bowman told Bush that he understood exactly what she was going through and described her as a “powerful truth teller.”

Similar obstacles have been avoided by a number of other members of the Squad, a group of progressive politicians who rose to prominence under the administration of former President Donald Trump. Reps. Summer Lee (D-Penn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) are two of them. For the rest of the bunch, this year’s race will still be challenging. Next week, former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels will mount a formidable primary campaign against Democratic Congressman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.