Pro-Israel influence and controversial campaign tactics shape election outcome.
The Squad Takes a Hit
U.S. Representative Cori Bush, a member of the informal left-wing group in the House of Representatives called the Squad, lost the Democratic primary in Missouri.
Bell Beats Bush
Cori Bush was beaten by Wesley Bell for Missouri’s 1st Congressional District seat. She is the second member of the Squad who has been defeated by pro-israel candidates.
7 Left
Jamaal Brown lost in the New York primaries earlier this summer, leaving only 7 members left in the group.
Bush’s Rise to Recognition
Bush rose to national recognition in 2020 after beating the Republican long-term incumbent Lacy Clay in the 2020 elections.
Ferguson Remains Relevant
Prior to being elected into the House, Bush participated in the protests in Ferguson following the death of an unarmed teenager, Michael Brown, at the hands of the St. Louis police.
History of Activism
Her activism didn’t stop when she was formally elected. Bush made headlines in 2021 when she slept on the steps of the Capitol to protest an eviction moratorium.
The Right to Choose
She has also been very vocal about her abortion rights and was a part of repealing a federal law that could be used to ban medication that terminates pregnancy in order to protect the right to choose.
Vocal Support
Over the last year, Bush has been one of the most vocal advocates for Palestine and has angered quite a few Jewish leaders. Bush posted on social media saying that she could not “be silent about Israel’s ethnic cleansing campaign.”
Israel’s Stance
Israel has maintained repeatedly that the outrageous civilian death toll in Gaza is due to Hamas hiding behind civilians.
Unapologetic For Her Stance
Bush did not back down from her pro-Palestine views during the recent election and continued to be unapologetic for her support. She also has stated that she sees a glimpse of the Black American struggle for civil rights in Palestine as they continue to fight for self-determination.
Bush’s Statement
In July, Bush said, “I condemned Hamas over and over again. But what I did not do was sign onto legislation that were Republican bills meant to fuel anti-Palestinian hate”. She continued, “What we were saying was, we can condemn Hamas. And also care about the lives of the Palestinian people and not want to see them harmed as well”.
The Controversy
In response to losing the campaign, Bush has stated that anti-Palestine groups like the United Democracy Project ruined her campaign by emphasizing how her votes do not align with President Biden’s.
Bush Shouldn’t Stand Alone
While they may not directly be calling her out for her lack of support for Israel, the intention is clear. Bush has mentioned that she is not the only one in support of Palestine, and that even Kamala Harris is in favor of a cease-fire.
Radicalized Against Her Will?
Bush feels as though Congress and Bell’s supporters have radicalized her against her own will, making her beliefs out to be more severe than they actually are. After the recent backlash, Bush has felt defeated by the covert deceit rampant in congress.
Deceit Continues
Bush questioned, “So the thing is this, why are they not talking about that? Is it because this is the president’s position to have a cease-fire now?”. Continuing, “And so I’m really pissed off that there is this deceit happening, because if you believe that’s why you needed to run, then why aren’t you running on that?”.
Voters Sour on Bush
Other voters soured on Bush, saying, “Her position seems kind of extreme in her votes, instead of aligning herself with Biden, who is arguably the best progressive president I’ve had in my lifetime.”
Ferguson Debate
The war in Israel was not the only point of contention throughout this election. The winner, Wesley Bell, was also involved in the Ferguson protests in 2020 but was on the other side of the fight.
The Other Side
When working as a prosecutor on the case, Bell chose not to charge Officer Darren Wilson with murder or manslaughter.
“He Used My Family For Power”
Bush released a campaign ad that shocked the community featuring Michael Brown Sr., who said Bell let him down, saying, “He never walked the streets of Ferguson with me. He failed to reform the office. He used my family for power,” continuing, “Now, he’s trying to sell out St. Louis. He doesn’t care about us.”
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Shala W. Graham.
