Another member of the so-called “Squad” has faced defeat in their primary election amid scrutiny regarding their position on Israel. On Tuesday, St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell emerged victorious over Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) in her primary contest.
“Bush, part of the House ‘squad’ of progressive legislators alongside Bowman, was already anticipated to encounter a challenging primary in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, which ultimately became the second-most costly primary of the election cycle, surpassed only by Bowman’s race in New York. Her strong advocacy for a ceasefire in Gaza intensified the criticism from her opponents,” CNN reported.
Earlier this year, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) also experienced a primary loss as pro-Israel organizations targeted him for his stance against Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The report highlighted that Bell gained prominence during the protests in Ferguson, Missouri, following the death of Michael Brown.
Bush’s primary challenger had initially intended to contest against Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) but decided to withdraw from the Senate race late last year and instead focus on challenging the progressive congresswoman. Bell is anticipated to secure victory in the general election.
Bush has drawn significant criticism from pro-Israel groups due to her opposition to Israel’s military actions against Hamas, asserting after the October 7 attack that “Israel’s collective punishment against Palestinians for Hamas’ actions constitutes a war crime.”
Furthermore, she has faced backlash for her strong advocacy for defunding police departments while simultaneously spending substantial amounts on private security.
