In a surprising turn of events, Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), a prominent member of the progressive "squad," suffered a defeat in her reelection campaign's primary on Tuesday.
The loss came after a significant push from a leading pro-Israel Political Action Committee (PAC) in favor of her rival, St. Louis County District Attorney Wesley Bell. Bush, known for her vocal criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza, pledged to retaliate against the PAC in a passionate speech following her defeat.
The United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), was a significant contributor to Bell's campaign. Bush's defeat marks the second time a member of the progressive "squad" has lost a primary this cycle, raising concerns about the influence of such groups.
According to The Hill, Bush's defeat has not dampened her spirit. Instead, she claims it has only "taken some strings off." In her post-defeat speech, she stated, "Because now there are some strings that I have attached, and as much as I love my job, all they did was radicalize me, and now they should be afraid." She further warned, "Theyre about to see this other Cori, this other side. There is nothing that happens in my life that happens in vain. So this happened because it was meant to happen. And let me say, its because of the work that I need to do."
Bush's criticism of AIPAC was unequivocal. She declared, "And let me say this, AIPAC, Im coming to tear your kingdom down!" Her words were met with cheers from her supporters.
Bush has been a vocal critic of the ongoing Gaza war, labeling it as "Israels ethnic cleansing campaign." Earlier this year, she introduced the Ceasefire Now Resolution, a move that drew backlash from fellow congressional members and constituents in her district. Bell, upon announcing his campaign, criticized Bush's comments, stating, "I think [her] comments show a lack of understanding of the nuance and complexities of an issue thats literally hundreds of years in the making."
Sludge reports that AIPAC contributed to two-thirds of Bell's campaign funding. The United Democracy Project spent over $7 million to ensure Bush's defeat.
The influence of AIPAC has been a point of contention among some Democrats, given its history of supporting conservative candidates and receiving funding from top GOP donors. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), another "squad" member who lost his primary last month, also faced significant support from AIPAC. Following Bowman's defeat, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for a "real conversation about the AIPAC."
Ocasio-Cortez criticized the group, stating, "I think that what we do need to have a real conversation about is how a Republican primarily Republican and largely Republican-financed organization is playing and dumping money and playing an extremely divisive role in the Democratic Party."
The outcome of Tuesday's primary reduces the "squad" from nine to seven members of Congress. However, the original four members, elected in 2018, are expected to remain.
AIPAC has refuted allegations of sowing discord among Democrats by intervening in primaries. In a statement to The Hill earlier this year, the group claimed to be "the largest PAC contributor to Democratic candidates." They further stated, "Our political action committee supports the Democratic leadership and nearly half of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Black Caucus and Hispanic Caucus. In addition, our affiliated super PAC supported a number of Democratic progressive candidates in the last election cycle, who defeated anti-Israel candidates in their primary, won their general election, and are currently serving in Congress. We believe that it is entirely consistent with progressive values to stand with the Jewish state."
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