鈥淕etting primaried.鈥
A relatively new term in American politics, the phrase describes when incumbents who likely would win a general election get derailed by losing a primary fight.
The latest murmurs of getting primaried now involve U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, who has drawn more fire than usual over her recent stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
One organization is floating the possibility of having a Democrat oppose the incumbent 狐狸视频 Democrat in the August 2024 primary.
Robert Schwartz, executive director of Show Me Primary, said his group is eyeing the 1st Congressional District seat held by Bush, who he called a 鈥渓ightning rod.鈥
Schwartz said Bush has 鈥渇ailed to condemn Hamas for its terrorism or stand with Israel and does not represent the interests of her voters.鈥
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鈥淔or that reason, we would be open to a qualified, serious candidate to challenge her,鈥 he said this week.
The group also shared a post from former U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who said Bush 鈥渟hould鈥 be drawing criticism for her stance.
Schwartz, a 狐狸视频 native who lives in the Washington, D.C., area, said the group also is working in New Hampshire, as Primary Pivot, to convince undeclared voters to register as Republicans and vote against former President Donald Trump in the 2024 GOP primary, he said.
This would not be a first challenge for Bush, who in 2020 upset longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. William 鈥淟acy鈥 Clay.
She was opposed in the 2022 primary by state Sen. Steven Roberts of 狐狸视频. Bush easily defeated Roberts, whose campaign was dogged by past allegations of sexual harassment.
But this time around, a challenge could get a boost from the local Jewish community, which is prevalent in University City, Creve Coeur and Olivette, all in Bush鈥檚 district.
鈥淲e feel extremely united,鈥 said Stacey Newman, a nine-year veteran of the Missouri House and former chair of its progressive caucus.
Newman, who is Jewish, then cast that assessment in a darker light: 鈥淚t鈥檚 based on fear; it鈥檚 fear really. Where are we safe, and who will protect us?鈥
The concerns in the Jewish community, she said, went beyond specific disagreements over any vote.
鈥淭his is about more than just ineffective legislation. It鈥檚 about it being a danger to (a group of) her constituents,鈥 she said.
Newman said Bush鈥檚 position is especially troubling when paired with pro-Palestinian protests 鈥渂eing led by progressive activists with little understanding鈥 of Middle East history.
As to challengers, Newman noted that the August primary still was about 10 months away. And she said local Jewish leaders just now are shaking off the initial impact of Hamas鈥 attack.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e moving from shock to fact-finding,鈥 she said.
That impending shift of focus was echoed by a major player in U.S. politics: the , a powerful, well-funded lobbying group.
AIPAC鈥檚 power does not come from giving large amounts of money, an explains. Rather, it wields influence from telling other pro-Israel political action committees on how they should, and should not, give out theirs. The article calls it a strategy of 鈥渞eward and retribution.鈥
When asked this week about aiding a challenge of Bush, AIPAC spokesperson Marshall Wittmann said:
鈥淭here will be a time for political action, but right now our priority is building and sustaining congressional support for Israel鈥檚 fight to permanently dismantle Hamas, which perpetrated the barbaric, terrorist attack on the Jewish state.鈥
Wittmann noted that AIPAC has targeted Bush in several social media posts, including one on Oct. 15 for a cease-fire:
鈥淐alling for a cease-fire now is a transparent ploy by (Bush) and the anti-Israel squad to paint Israel as the aggressor and allow Hamas to stay in power,鈥 the organization said.
, AIPAC鈥檚 counterpart as an umbrella group for Islamic issues and operator of the largest Muslim-American political action committee, supported the recent push by Bush to have a cease-fire declared.
As to its position on a possible primary challenge to Bush, the organization did not respond to questions sent twice by email and could not be reached Wednesday by telephone.
Schwartz鈥檚 primary plan does face obstacles: With Missouri having contested races in the 2024 Republican primary, including for governor and attorney general, one political source said it would be tough to get GOP voters to grab a Democratic ballot.
鈥淚 think (Schwartz鈥檚 group) would aim more at moderate Democrats and independents,鈥 voters who often do not take part in primaries, said the source, who did not want to be named.
A challenger to Bush would, however, face a campaign that at least now seems short on money and possibly leadership.
The latest Federal Election Commission report shows that Bush鈥檚 campaign has less than $20,000 cash on hand, lower than any other Missouri congressional member.
Along with a low cash reserve, the campaign also is $130,000 in debt. The debts are not owed to miscellaneous service providers but to several major players who work with progressive candidates in numerous national campaigns.
Raising money to make up for any shortfalls also may be an uphill battle, another publication contends. The Free Beacon that Bush and other members of 鈥淭he Squad鈥 鈥 a group of progressive legislators who consistently oppose aid to Israel 鈥 are struggling to raise campaign cash.
鈥淭he Squad鈥檚 lackluster fundraising could pose a problem as its members fight to keep their seats in what could be a contentious election cycle,鈥 the article states.
On top of that, Bush鈥檚 campaign manager for the last year, Adrastos Da Silva, took to social media on Aug. 9 to say he was 鈥渢ransitioning out of鈥 Bush鈥檚 campaign.
Bush鈥檚 campaign did not respond to three emails requesting an interview.
Schwartz, of Show Me Primary, insists the issue is not a case of partisan politics.
He said the group鈥檚 first effort was last summer, when it encouraged Missouri Democrats to vote for Eric Schmitt in the U.S. Senate GOP primary 鈥 solely to ensure that former Gov. Eric Greitens would not win.
鈥淲e realize there is extremism and misinformation being spread on both sides of the aisle,鈥 Schwartz said. 鈥淥ur aim is simply to defeat extremists.鈥