Cori Bush becomes second Squad member to lose Democratic primary

Cori Bush's defeat is another loss for progressives in a race defined by Democratic divisions over the war in Gaza
PUBLISHED AUG 7, 2024
Representative Cori Bush of Missouri, one of the most outspoken progressives in the House, lost her primary (Getty Images)
Representative Cori Bush of Missouri, one of the most outspoken progressives in the House, lost her primary (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Congresswoman Cori Bush lost the Democratic primary elections in Missouri reported The Hill based on a projection from Decision Desk HQ. The result dealt a considerable blow to the progressive 'Squad' on Capitol Hill, who lost their second member in this election cycle.

Bush lost St Louis Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell in her 1st Congressional District. According to The New York Times, he ran as a progressive and a pragmatist and was supported by the powerful pro-Israel lobby.

YONKERS, NY - JUNE 23: New York Democratic House candidate Jamaal Bowman greets supporters on June 2
Rep Jamaal Bowman was the first Squad member who lost his seat in 2024 (Getty Images)

Back in June, Rep Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) was the first squad member to lose his primary to Westchester County Executive George Latimer, in another instance of pro-Israeli lobby pushing out progressive Congress member. Bowman's vocal criticism of Israel's assault on Gaza led the United Democracy Project, a super PAC linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, to back his opponent and spend nearly $15 million in ads against him, according to NBC News.

Pro-Israel groups spent millions to oust Cori Bush

Cori Bush, who strongly condemned the Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu over its military campaign and the rising civilian death toll in Gaza, faced similar opposition from pro-Israel groups just like Jamaal Bowman. 

ST. LOUIS, MO - NOVEMBER 03: Congresswoman-elect Cori Bush speaks during her election-night watch pa
Pro-Israel groups spent millions in their effort to prevent Rep Cori Bush from being reelected to the House of Representatives (Getty Images)

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the United Democracy Project (UDP), AIPAC’s super PAC, spent approximately $9 million to defeat her in the primaries, reported The Hill.

Bush has made herself vulnerable in this election through a series of controversial decisions. She was one of the two Democrats who voted against a resolution to bar members of Hamas and anyone who participated in the attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023, from the United States. She had also refused to label Hamas a 'terrorist' organization and opposed President Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure law.

With her and Bowmnan exiting the House of Representatives, the squad looks forward to another member, Rep Ilhan Omar's primary in the coming week, where she would go up against former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 11: Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) speaks with media gathered outside Mercado Centr
Rep Ilhan Omar (D-MN) faces a tough battle ahead going for reelection in the Democratic primary in Minnesota (Getty Images)

Internet trolls Cori Bush after her loss

Conservatives and moderates on the social media platform X 9formerly Twitter) were happy for Bush's defeat in the primaries, and even kept their fingers crossed for a similar fate to Omar. The following tweets demonstrate the prevalent take.

"She got smoked. It couldn't have happened to a nicer person. This made my evening a little better," wrote a user.



 

"Excellent. People are getting sick and tired and fed up with all this woke bullshit. Next week it‘s Omar’s turn," stated another.



 

"Not sad to see her go," jibed a third.



 

"She got smoked," chided a fourth.



 

"She lost handily! Nice!" exclaimed a fifth user.



 

"Best news of the day," noted a sixth.



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

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