Why the progressive ‘Squad’ is getting smaller after defeats this primary cycle WPLG Local 10
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WASHINGTON–The“Squad,”agroupofprogressivelawmakersintheHouse,issettoshrinknextyearaftertwomemberssufferedprimarydefeatsthiselectioncyclefollowinganunprecedenteddelugeofspecialinterestspending.
TheprimarylossesforReps.CoriBushinMissouriandJamaalBowmaninNewYorkcameoverthesummeranddealtablowtotheprogressivefaction,whichhadamassedconsiderablecloutwithintheDemocraticPartysinceitsinitialrisein2018.
ThecohortofBlackandbrownlawmakers—includingReps.RashidaTlaibofMichigan,AlexandriaOcasioCortezofNewYorkandSummerLeeofPennsylvania—becamethetargetofpro-IsraelPACsliketheAmericanIsraelPublicAffairsCommittee,orAIPAC,latelastyearaftermemberscriticizedIsrael’sresponsetotheOct.7attackbyHamas.Eightmonthslater,AIPAC’ssuperpoliticalactioncommittee,UnitedDemocracyProject,helpedunseatBushandBowmanafterpouringnearly$25millioncombinedintothoseraces.
Still,therewereotherfactorsthatcontr
