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Cori Bush, ‘Squad’ Member and Vocal Critic of Israel, Loses Her Primary (web.archive.org)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by TrippyFocus@lemmy.ml to c/usa@lemmy.ml

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Summary of events:

Bush was elected in 2020 when she beat former Rep. William Lacy Clay in the Democratic primary.

In a phone call last summer her challenger Bell told her he would not run against her.

Bush was one of the first members of Congress to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, alongside Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., the only Palestinian American member of Congress.

This primary AIPAC spent $8.5 million supporting Bell including mailers which featured images with distortions made to Bush’s features. It is the fourth most expensive primary in House history.

This is now the 2nd Squad member AIPAC has removed through its campaign financing.

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[–] alvvayson@lemmy.dbzer0.com -5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (3 children)

Supporters of Bush and Bowman now face a strange incentive.

If they vote for Latimer and Bell, they will only embolden AIPAC and corporate America to use the same playbook in the districts of other progressive Democrats. And they will have them as incumbents in 2026.

If they do a protest vote (third party, write-in or stay home), that sends a clear message, but also gives the Republicans a +1.

On the face it, it would suck if the Republicans win their district, but also consider that a Republican win will (a) ensure Democrats field a progressive in 2026 and (b) show both Democrats and Republicans that the progressive vote is powerful and can be courted.

So it might actually be a good strategy. Look at 2016. Yeah, four years of Trump sucked, but it also made Democrats realize they had to court their progressive win. Corporate Hilary just couldn't win without them.

Knowing this, there is also a Dark Brandon, scorched earth, move available: Vote directly for the Republican and give them a +2.

This will show progressives know how to yield their voting power and that they should be taken seriously as a group.

[–] NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml 27 points 3 months ago

I'm not convinced the Democrats learned anything since 2016. When did they "court" the progressives in 2020?

[–] KevonLooney@lemm.ee 11 points 3 months ago

So what you're saying is, give the pro-Israel republicans a slight edge in the House. That'll help Palestine.

[–] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 months ago

This is the stupidest political strategy I've ever heard of.