Progressives suffered a major blow in Tuesday night’s primary election, when Rep. Cori Bush (D-Missouri) became the second “Squad” member to lose to a challenger in a primary this cycle.
Bush’s loss, seen as a victory for the party’s progressive wing and coming just hours after Vice President Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, exposed internal party divisions over Israel’s war with Hamas.
In addition to Missouri, voters also headed to the polls in Kansas, Michigan and Washington state to decide key November showdowns.
Here are five takeaways.
Cori Bush’s loss raises questions about ‘the team’
Tuesday night’s biggest showdown was in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, where Bush was expected to lose to St. Louis County Attorney Wesley Bell.
Bush’s loss makes her the second member of her team to lose reelection, following Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D), who lost his New York seat earlier this year.
Bell, who reclaimed his prosecutorial seat in 2018 by defeating a longtime incumbent, Withdrew his candidacy for the Senate election She will challenge Mr. Bush for his seat in the House of Representatives this term, a race that has attracted significant outside funding amid growing anger over Mr. Bush’s stance on Israel and other controversies surrounding her, including a federal investigation into how he spent his campaign funds.
Her loss could raise further questions about the future of progressives in Congress and put them on the defensive going into November and beyond, especially as they consider how to beat a well-funded primary challenger like Bell.
That said, not all of the news this election cycle has been bad for the team. Other prominent members, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), are likely to be easily re-elected, and another progressive, Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA), also won her primary earlier this year despite being outfunded.
Another Big Win for AIPAC
Bush’s primary defeat was the latest victory for the pro-Israel lobbying group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which has become increasingly powerful in primaries in recent years.
AIPAC’s super PAC spent heavily to defeat her in the primary, reportedly spending more than $8 million. The group also spent millions to promote Westchester County Mayor George Latimer in the race to challenge Bowman’s seat in New York’s 16th Congressional District, stoking the anger of progressives.
The group’s opposition to President Bush was a response to his vocal criticism of Israel’s war against the terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
She was one of the few House members to vote against a resolution expressing support for Israel last year, and last month she spoke out against Bush when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to a joint session of Congress.It is called“It’s sickening that Congress gave him a standing ovation.”
When Bowman retired, BushIt is calledHe called AIPAC a “threat to democracy” and accused the group of working to “silence voices of progress and justice.”
Mr. Bush’s primary was just the latest example of how the war between Israel and Hamas has loomed large over this Democratic campaign, with Mr. Biden facing fierce backlash over his administration’s handling of the conflict before dropping out of the presidential race.
Important Senate Elections Confirmed
The results of Michigan’s November Senate election were certified Tuesday night, one of the key races that will determine control of the upper chamber.
Three-term Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) is expected to win the Democratic primary to replace retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D), while former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), a Trump-backed former Democrat, won the Republican primary.
Rogers was recruited by the Republican Senate campaign to run for the vacant seat, and the party sees it as a key election opportunity. Republicans are excited about what some are calling the party’s best race in years to win a Senate that is currently narrowly controlled by Democrats.
Slotkin is from StabenowApproval Projections from The Hill and Decision Desk HQ give her a 66 percent chance of beating Rogers in November.
The Great Lakes state is also a key battleground in the presidential election.
After Biden received a significant number of protest votes from his own party in the Michigan primary earlier this year, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rated the Senate race as a “50-50 split.” With just over 90 days until Election Day, it’s unclear how newly formed Harris-Waltz candidate will impact the race for the Senate seat, but many Democrats argue that the new vice president’s Midwestern origins will give the party an advantage in traditional “blue wall” states.
Pro-Impeachment Republicans Fight for Survival
One of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach President Trump following the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol is fighting to retain his seat in Washington’s 4th Congressional District.
As of late Tuesday night, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) and fellow Trump supporter Jerrod Sessler had emerged from a crowded independent primary and were poised to enter a tight race, but at press time there were still many votes remaining and Newhouse was leading by a small margin over third-place Republican candidate Tiffany Smiley.
Newhouse defeated Sesler and Trump-backed Loren Culp in the primary two years ago and was re-elected to his Republican-leaning downtown Washington seat in the midterm elections.
But his impeachment vote has made him a continuing political target. In endorsing Sessler in the election, Trump called Newhouse “a weak, pathetic Republican congressman who voted to impeach me for no reason.”
Newhouse is one of two pro-impeachment Republicans remaining in the House and is facing a fall presidential campaign.Surviving Trump’s wrathTo the Republicans who opposed him after January 6th.
Kansas state officials could lose their jobs over election conspiracy
The sheriff of Kansas’ most populous county is expected to lose re-election on Tuesday amid frustration over a controversial investigation into allegations of election fraud.
Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden launched the investigation after the 2020 election, despite claims from local authorities that there was no widespread fraud.reportAccording to the Associated Press.
Hayden suspended the investigation last month because he did not file criminal charges.Fueling suspicionTowards a state and local election system, The Kansas City Starreport.
On Tuesday, Hayden was expected to lose the Republican primary to Republican Doug Bedford, a former Navy SEAL and Hayden aide.Deputy SheriffHe will face Democrat Byron Roberson, who served from 2017 to 2021.Chief of PolicePrairie Village in Autumn.
The incumbent’s possible defeat, after he won unopposed four years ago, signals a divide among Republicans in the state over claims of election fraud.
Former President Trump has refused to accept the results of the 2024 election,Denies claims that the 2020 election was stolenMeanwhile, some in the party are pressuring Republicans to move on from the last election.
