The progressive group of lawmakers known as the “Squad” in the House is set to reduce in size next year following the primary losses of two members this election cycle. Reps. Cori Bush in Missouri and Jamaal Bowman in New York faced defeats after facing significant special interest spending. The primary losses dealt a blow to the progressive faction within the Democratic Party, which had gained influence since its emergence in 2018. The group of Black and brown lawmakers had become a target of pro-Israel PACs after criticizing Israel’s response to an attack by Hamas last year. AIPAC’s super PAC, United Democracy Project, played a role in unseating Bush and Bowman by investing nearly $25 million in their races.
Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, another member of the Squad, easily won her primary election, despite sharing similar views with Bush and Bowman and being a vocal critic of Israel. Bowman, representing New York’s 16th District, faced challenges due to redistricting that reduced the number of key Black voters in his constituency. His challenger, George Latimer, received support from Jewish leaders and significant financial backing from AIPAC’s super PAC. The race was largely influenced by Bowman’s stance on Israel and criticism for triggering a fire alarm in a House building.
For Bush in Missouri’s 1st District, campaign ads in the final weeks of her primary focused on her vote against a bipartisan infrastructure bill. Allies of Bush attributed her defeat partially to outside groups like UDP, which spent millions on ads against her. Despite defending their vote against the bill, it became a campaign issue only for Bush. Omar in Minnesota’s 5th District managed to secure a victory in her primary, having raised more campaign funds and received endorsements from progressive leaders. The threat posed by her challenger and potential special interest spending was addressed more strategically by Omar’s team.
Overall, the losses experienced by members of the Squad in this election cycle were influenced by factors such as redistricting, campaign messaging, financial backing, and issues beyond their progressive politics. While Bush and Bowman faced defeats, Omar successfully navigated her primary with a well-executed campaign strategy and substantial fundraising efforts.
