‘Squad’ under siege as Rep. Cori Bush trails Democratic challenger by 23 percentage points: poll
Another member of the left-leaning “Squad” in Congress is on the ropes — facing a 23 percentage-point deficit and possibly headed for defeat, a new poll claims.
Rep. Cori Bush trails St. Louis prosecuting attorney Wesley Bell 56% to 33% in the Aug. 6 Democratic primary for Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, according to the survey conducted by McLaughlin & Associates for the CCA Action Fund.
The remaining 11% were undecided or backed lesser-known candidates Ron Harshaw and Maria Chappelle-Nadal.
It’s the latest troubling sign for the liberal “Squad” after New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman was soundly defeated by moderate Westchester County Executive George Latimer in a June 25 Democratic primary in the 16th District stretching from Co-Op City in the Bronx to the leafy suburbs of Westchester County.
Bowman was the first member of the Squad — which includes Bronx/Queens Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — to be defeated in a party primary.
As in the Bowman-Latimer race, the Israel-Hamas war has figured prominently and brought out the contrasts between the candidates for the Missouri seat.
Like Bowman, Bush has been a staunch critic of Israel’s war tactics against Hamas in Gaza.
Bell said he supports Israel’s right to defend itself and target the Hamas militia for its sneak Oct. 7, 2023, attack against the Jewish state. Pro-Israel Democrats are backing Bell.
“Cori Bush has wasted her time in Congress to focus on her own fame in ‘The Squad’ — while her constituents suffer,” said Pastor Marc Little, spokesman for the anti-Bush CCA Action Fund, a super PAC.
“This poll proves St. Louis wants a representative who will champion our community and its prosperity and safety, and who will defend America — not a Cori Bush who wants to tear it all down.”
Two-term incumbent Bush is viewed favorably by 50% of registered Democrats and unfavorably by 47%, the survey found.
Some 51% of Democrats disapprove of her job performance while only 46% approve.
By comparison, Bell is viewed favorably by 70% of respondents and unfavorably by just 18%.
The high negative ratings of her tenure among fellow Democrats is a problem for Bush, the pollsters said.
The survey of 300 likely Democratic voters was conducted between June 28 and July 1, via telephone interviews and texting. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.7 percentage points.
A survey conducted late last month found a tight race, with Bell leading Bush by just one point — 43% to 42%, within the margin of error. That poll was conducted by the Mellman Group for the group the Democratic Majority for Israel.
That poll too found Bell to be more popular and having a higher job performance rating than Bush.
The Mellman Group accurately predicted in April that Latimer would trounce Bowman by double digits.
As in the Bowman-Latimer race, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Democratic Majority for Israel are spending money to try to elect Bell and oust Bush.
AIPAC’s super PAC, the United Democracy Project, has already spent $4.2 million, according to AdImpact Politics.
As with Bowman, Bush has personal baggage.
In January, she confirmed that the Justice Department was probing her campaign spending on security services, which employed a former security guard whom she married.
The Post reached out to the Bush campaign for comment but didn’t immediately receive a response.
She recently won endorsements from influential unions — including SEIU Healthcare, National Nurses United and Communication Workers of America.
