A challenger to “Squad” member Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) could be making strides, according to a new poll, highlighting broad pushback from centrist Democrats this primary season.
A poll from The Mellman Group shows challenger Wesley Bell making strides against Bush in the race for the Democratic nomination for Missouri ’s 1st Congressional District, which includes most of St. Louis and nearby cities such as Ferguson and University City. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) lost to his primary challenger, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, Tuesday in the first blow to any of the "Squad" Democrats for their liberal stance toward Israel.
Bell is polling at 43%, one point ahead of Bush compared to her 42%. Eleven percent were undecided. The internal poll conducted was for Democratic Majority for Israel by its CEO and pollster Mark Mellman, both of whom have been critical of the anti-Israel positions of "Squad" members. The poll included 400 voters in Missouri's 1st Congressional District between June 18-22 and has a margin of error of +/- 4.9%.
In terms of favorability, 60% expressed a favorable outlook toward Bush, and 31% were unfavorable, while Bell received 64% favorability and 22% unfavorable. Sixty-one percent of those polled approve of Bell’s job as St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney, while 49% approve of Bush in Congress.
Bowman’s loss marks a snag for "Squad" members as the Democratic Party has fractured on support for Israel in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. Mellman told the Washington Examiner that districts will oust "Squad" members on a district-by-district basis, and while it is a pattern that centrist Democrats have rejected strong anti-Israel sentiment, Bowman's loss doesn't necessarily mean every Democrat critical of Israel will lose their primary.
Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA), whose district encompasses Jewish neighborhoods in the Pittsburgh area, survived a primary challenge from a pro-Israel candidate earlier this year. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) also survived her primary challenger Tuesday.
Bell has still been outwardly critical of Bush’s stance on Israel. He said the United States needs to “stand with our allies.”
Jewish organizations in the area have condemned Bush’s statement that Israel’s war strategy in Gaza is an “ethnic cleansing campaign.” Bell said calling Israel’s actions “ethnic cleansing” is “just wrong” and “misguided.”
“Her statements and your statements are just wrong on that,” Bell said. “Period.”
A February poll from the same group also showed Bush lagging behind Bell. Mellman told the Hill at the time, "This poll validates what we’ve known for a while. We have the momentum in this race because voters in the first district want a representative who is a bridge builder.”
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Other "Squad" members, such as Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who have been outspoken critics of Israel, will hold their primaries in August.
Missouri’s primary is Aug. 6.
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