Rep. Cori Bush, the St. Louis Democrat and former Ferguson activist, delivered her farewell speech in the House after losing a primary to Wesley Bell. Reflecting on her tenure, she highlighted her advocacy for progressive causes, including housing rights, universal pre-K, Medicare expansion, and combating income inequality. Bush criticized her party for scaling back the Build Back Better agenda, which she argued would have addressed inflation and improved lives nationwide. She hinted at a possible return to public service, emphasizing the need for Democrats to push harder for transformative policies.
Bush rose to prominence after unseating longtime incumbent Rep. Lacy Clay in 2020 and securing reelection in 2022. However, her outspoken progressive positions, including her criticism of U.S. support for Israel and opposition to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, contributed to her primary defeat. Her 2021 Capitol protest against the end of the COVID eviction moratorium remains a hallmark of her activism.
Bush’s departure comes as other progressive lawmakers face setbacks. Fellow Squad member Rep. Jamaal Bowman lost reelection, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez failed in her bid for a key committee role, losing to centrist Democrat Rep. Gerry Connolly. Connolly, backed by the New Democrat Coalition, was lauded for his leadership and readiness to counter Republican priorities in the upcoming Congress.
