Another member of Congress’ left-wing “squad” is also in trouble: a new poll shows he is trailing in the polls by 23 percentage points and heading for defeat.
In the Aug. 6 Democratic primary for Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, Rep. Cori Bush is trailing St. Louis prosecutor Wesley Bell, 56% to 33%, according to a poll conducted by McLaughlin & Associates for the CCA Action Fund.
The remaining 11% were either undecided or supported lesser known candidates Ron Harshaw and Maria Chappelle Nadal.
It’s the latest worrying sign for the liberal “Squad,” following New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s crushing defeat to moderate Westchester County Mayor George Latimer in the June 25 Democratic primary in the 16th Congressional District, which stretches from Co-op City in the Bronx to the leafy suburbs of Westchester County.
Bowman is the first member of “The Squad,” which also includes New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx/Queens), to lose in the party’s primary.
As in the Bowman vs. Latimer election, the Israel-Hamas war was a major issue, highlighting the divide between the candidates for Missouri’s seats.
Like Bowman, Bush has been a strong critic of Israel’s war tactics against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Bell said he supports Israel’s right to defend itself and target Hamas militias who launch a surprise attack against the Jewish state on Oct. 7, 2023. The pro-Israel Democratic Party has endorsed Bell.
“Cori Bush is wasting her time in Congress focusing on her fame on ‘The Squad,’ while her constituents suffer,” said the Rev. Mark Little, spokesman for the anti-Bush CCA Action Fund, a super PAC.
“This poll proves that St. Louisans want a representative who will defend our communities, their prosperity and safety, and protect America, not a Cori Bush who is out to destroy it all.”
According to the survey, 50 percent of Democrats have a favorable view of incumbent President Bush, who is in his second term, while 47 percent have an unfavorable view.
About 51% of Democrats disapproved of her job performance, while just 46% approved.
By comparison, Bell was viewed favorably by 70% of respondents and unfavorably by only 18%.
Pollsters have pointed to a problem for Bush: Democratic voters’ highly negative evaluations of his time in office.
The survey of 300 likely Democratic voters was conducted via telephone interviews and text messages between June 28 and July 1, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.7 percentage points.
A survey conducted late last month by the Israel Democratic Party’s Melman Group showed Bell leading Bush by just one point, 43 percent to 42 percent, within the margin of error.
The poll also found that Bell was more popular than Bush and received higher ratings for his job performance.
The Melman Group accurately predicted in April that Latimer would beat Bowman by double digits.
As with the Bowman v. Latimer election, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Israel Democratic Majority are spending money to get Bell elected and oust Bush.
AIPAC’s super PAC, the United Democracy Project, has already spent $4.2 million, according to AdImpact Politics.
Like Bowman, Bush had his own personal problems.
In January, she acknowledged that the Justice Department was investigating campaign spending on a security service that employed a former security guard who was married to her.
The Washington Post reached out to the Bush campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
She recently Gained support They come from influential unions such as SEIU Healthcare, the American Nurses United and the Communications Workers of America.
