Ousted ‘Squad’ Members Suffer Parting Embarrassment On The Floor Of The House

Two members of the progressive “Squad,” Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Cori Bush (D-MO), gave their farewell speeches to a near-empty congressional floor following their losses in this year’s Democratic primaries.

Only three Squad members—Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)—were present to hear the departing lawmakers.

Notably absent were Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Greg Casar (D-TX), Summer Lee (D-PA), and Delia Ramirez (D-IL), among others.

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Both Bowman and Bush faced controversies during their time in office that contributed to their losses.

Radical squad member Cori Bush (@CoriBush) suffers embarrassing DEFEAT in the MI-01 Democrat primary. She is the second squad member to be ousted this year after fire-alarm puller Jamaal Bowman’s loss in June. GOOD RIDDANCE! pic.twitter.com/Kgo6XefSgn

— Bad Hombre (@joma_gc) August 7, 2024

Bowman, who referred to Israel’s war against Hamas as a “genocide” against Palestinians, drew significant backlash, including a primary challenge from a Jewish candidate.

BREAKING

Before Jamaal Bowman leaves, I wanted to show him one last time what a Fire Alarm looks like

GOOD FVCKING BYE L0SER pic.twitter.com/MVcfP8J2Hn

— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) June 26, 2024

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez even canceled a planned election-day appearance with Bowman, signaling his diminished popularity within the party.

Cori Bush’s term was also marked by scandals and low legislative impact. According to GovTrack, she tied as the least effective Missouri congressperson in terms of getting bills out of committee.

Bush faced scrutiny for hiring an antisemitic bodyguard, prompting a Department of Justice investigation into whether he performed any work while receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in pay from her official office.

Bush also faced criticism for a series of missteps, including confusing Memorial Day with Veterans Day and displaying a lack of understanding of the tax code while offering unsolicited opinions on selective criminal matters.

The departure of Bowman and Bush highlights growing friction within the Democratic Party, with some lawmakers blaming the Squad’s “woke” positions for jeopardizing the party’s broader appeal.

A grand total of three members of Congress showed up to Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush’s farewell speech. pic.twitter.com/HC9GG0UFS3

— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) December 13, 2024

Their controversial stances on issues such as Israel and their involvement in high-profile anti-Israel protests have fueled criticism from within the party.

“Nobody who cares about them tried to help, tried to stop them, tried to say, ‘Hey, there’s a better way. You don’t need to do this,’” one Democratic lawmaker told Politico.

“You can advocate for your position without alienating the vast majority of voters. If you’re going to start huge fights as opposed to governing, there are consequences.”

Amid the fallout, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appears to be positioning herself for a more prominent role in the House.

According to reports, most Democrats on the House Oversight Committee backed her bid to become a ranking member, reflecting her continued influence within progressive circles.

Sources also indicate that Ocasio-Cortez has been working to build relationships with other members and regularly contributes to the Democrats’ campaign arm.

While Bowman and Bush’s departures highlight the challenges faced by progressive lawmakers, Ocasio-Cortez’s efforts suggest she is looking to solidify her standing in the party as it navigates a politically volatile landscape.

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