Squad member Cori Bush’s anti-Israel stance puts her at risk in Tuesday’s Democratic primary

Rep. Cori bush is fighting to survive in the Democratic Primary in Missouri on Tuesday. Her anti-Israel stance could make her the second member of “Squad”, who will be ousted by Democratic Voters.

Ms. Bush (48), a two-term incumbent and well-funded, will face off against St. Louis prosecutor Wesley Bell. Bell is backed by pro-Israel super PACs who booted out another Squad member in the New York Democrat Primary, Rep. Jamaal bowman.

Federal financial records show that Ms. Bush collected $2.9 million in donations for her reelection bid, while Mr. Bell received $4.7 million.

The United Democracy Project of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a political action committee within that organization, spent over $8.4 Million to defeat Bush.

Another pro-Israel PAC paid for a poll that shows Ms. Bush trailing Mr. Bell by six points.

Ms. Bush has been a vocal critic of Israel’s war against Hamas following its terrorist attack on Oct. 7, including her accusation of Israel of “ethnic cleaning campaign”.

She was one of the few House Democrats to oppose a resolution in support of Israel. She also boycotted Benjamin Netanyahu’s address last month at a joint session of Congress.

Ms. Bush is the representative of Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, which includes St. Louis as well as several suburbs including Ferguson.

Before she was elected to Congress in 2018, Ms. Johnson was an anti-police funding activist, who gained fame during the Ferguson riots of 2014.

Mr. Bell was also on the streets in Ferguson, protesting with the Black community after the fatal confrontation between Officer Darren Wilson (a Black officer) and Michael Brown (an unarmed Black person).

Mr. Bell was elected to the Ferguson City Council in 2014. He facilitated discussions between protestors and police officers. Early on, the young Black prosecutor distinguished her position on Israel and that of Ms. Bush.

When he announced his candidacy for Congress, he stated, “I believe we must stand with our friends, and Israel has been an ally for many years, but we want to keep the doors open for a solution of two states.” “But we can’t give comfort and aid to terrorist groups, and Hamas has always been an ally, but we want to keep the door open for a two-state solution,” he said, when launching his campaign for Congress.

IfNotNow, a pro-Palestinian American Jewish organization, has rallied to the side of Ms. Bush.

Ms. Bush urged her supporters to “reject AIPAC & defeat far-right extremism across the U.S.

Justice Democrats, a part of Reject AIPAC and a group that supports Ms. Bush, has spent approximately $1.5 million in this election cycle.

She had also run-ins within her district with Democratic leaders when she voted to oppose the White House-backed Bipartisan infrastructure law that spent $429 millions on Missouri water projects.

She said that she voted against this bill because she did not like certain aspects of it, such as the subsidised child care.

Ms. Bush faces a federal investigation over the use of campaign funds for her husband’s security. She has denied any wrongdoing.