St. Louis Democrat Cori Bush Faces Criticism and Potential Primary Challengers After Controversial Comments on Israel
In the aftermath of the recent Hamas attack on Israel, most members of Congress have stood firmly behind the country. However, one notable exception is Cori Bush, a Missouri Democrat who has called Israel’s response a “war crime” and an “ethnic cleansing campaign.” She was among the few House members who opposed a resolution supporting Israel, drawing the ire of some in her district.
St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, who had been considering a U.S. Senate bid, dropped his plans to challenge Bush in next year’s 1st District Democratic primary. Moderate Democrats believe that Bell could have a strong chance of winning the primary against Bush, who has been viewed as insufficiently supportive of Israel by her critics.
Bush is not alone in facing criticism. Other Democrats, including Summer Lee in Pennsylvania, Jamaal Bowman in New York, Ilhan Omar in Minnesota, and Rashida Tlaib in Michigan, have also been accused of not being supportive enough of Israel or critical enough of Hamas. These members may also face primary challenges in the future.
The criticism stems from their statements about Israel’s actions, with Bush and Omar accusing the country of “ethnic cleansing.” Summer Lee referred to Israeli actions as “human rights violations,” while Bowman spoke out against the erasure of Palestinian lives. While these members have condemned Hamas’ attack and antisemitism, their statements have been seen as inflammatory by staunch Israel supporters and critics of U.S. military aid to the country.
It is worth noting that not all Democrats are facing challenges for their stance on Israel. Shri Thanedar, a representative from Detroit with a large Muslim population, has backed Israel and may face pressure for his support in the heavily Democratic district.
Last week, the House overwhelmingly passed a resolution supporting Israel, with Bush, Bowman, Lee, Omar, and Tlaib among the nine Democrats who opposed it. Their criticism of the resolution centered on its lack of a ceasefire call, a pathway to peace, and protection for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Critics argued that the resolution failed to acknowledge Hamas’ attack on Israel or its status as a terrorist organization.
All five members are considered progressives and represent strongly Democratic districts, so their main threat may come from within the Democratic Party itself. The progressive group Justice Democrats, known for backing primary challengers against moderate Democrats, blamed the primary challenges on the influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its Republican donors.
The situation remains uncertain as to whether or not House Democrats will support incumbents facing primary challenges. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has indicated that it may get involved in protecting incumbents, though it declined to provide further details.
Challenges to Bush and the other members were already possible before the recent Hamas attack, but their positions since then have intensified calls for primary challengers. Members like Summer Lee and Ilhan Omar, who narrowly won their primary races in 2022, may be particularly vulnerable.
Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, has been vocal in her opposition to the Biden administration’s response to the conflict and is expected to face a strong challenger in 2024. Pro-Israel groups have already begun running ads against her in her metro Detroit district.
In Pittsburgh, Summer Lee has faced criticism from the Jewish community, particularly in the wake of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting. A group of rabbis and cantors released a letter criticizing Lee for her votes against the House resolution supporting Israel and her support for Cori Bush’s ceasefire resolution.
The situation is similar in Minnesota, where former school board member Don Samuels may launch a second campaign against Ilhan Omar. The outcome may depend on Omar’s stance on Israel in her heavily Somali American Muslim district.
In New York, George Latimer, the current Westchester County Executive, is considering a challenge to Jamaal Bowman. After Bowman’s stance on Israel following the recent attacks, members of the Jewish community have intensified their efforts to recruit a challenger.
In conclusion, Cori Bush and other Democratic members of Congress are facing criticism and possible primary challenges due to their views and statements on Israel. Their positions have drawn strong reactions from both sides, with critics accusing them of not being supportive enough of Israel and supporters defending their right to criticize Israeli actions. The outcome of these challenges will have significant implications for the Democratic Party and its relationship with Israel.
