Members of the so-called “Squad” are mobilizing to help Rep. Cori Bush survive election night Tuesday amid polls’ warning signs in her bruising primary.
Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and Summer Lee (D-Pa.) are poised to stump for Bush (D-Mo.) in a virtual rally early Monday evening.
“We have just ONE DAY ahead of us before primary Election Day. Come join Cori & some very special guests on Election Day eve to rally together and get out the vote!” Bush posted on Instagram.
Michigan Senate hopeful Hill Harper is also slated to partake in the call. Harper is competing against Rep. Elisa Slotkin (D-Mich.) who is favored to win the Wolverine State primary for Democrats Tuesday.
Looming over the virtual rally is Bowman’s defeat at the hands of Westchester County Executive George Latimer back in June.
Latimer mounted a challenge against Bowman from the center and had taken more pro-Israel positions relative to Bowman. Organizations such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) targeted Bowman due to his criticism of the Jewish state.
AIPAC has also taken aim at Bush, shelling out almost $9 million to unseat the incumbent rep in her fight against local prosecutor Wesley Bell, who has similarly campaigned against her from the center.
Bush has been outspoken against Israel, accusing the US ally of committing genocide against the Palestinians and decrying American support for the war effort against Hamas.
Her campaign has hit back at Bell, accusing him of being too conservative and zeroing in on his past work for a Republican candidate in 2006, Mark Byrne.
Bush’s team has particularly noted Byrne’s anti-abortion positions.
She has the backing of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), which is typical for incumbents. Bell is being supported by the editorial board of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, among other key local groups.
Some polling has pegged a tight race between the two. Last month a Mellman Group survey of 400 voters found Bell ahead with 43% to 42%.
Her seat is in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, which covers much of St. Louis and is one of two spots that Democrats hold in the state’s congressional delegation.
“Squad” members across the country have faced stiff primary challenges this election cycle from comparatively centrist Democrats.
Next week, on Aug. 13, fellow “Squad” Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) will be up for her rematch primary against former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels.
