Rep. Cori Bush, the St. Louis Democrat who is leaving the House after her loss in a closely watched primary, delivered her final speech on the chamber’s floor Thursday.
She reflected on her accomplishments, stated that the November elections sent a message to her party, and hinted that her career in Congress may not be over, according to Spectrum News, a local outlet.
A product of the Ferguson protest movement, Bush rose to prominence after defeating incumbent Rep. Lacy Clay in the 2020 Democratic primary for Missouri’s first congressional district, which includes the city of St. Louis and parts of St. Louis County. In 2022, she easily defeated State Sen. Steve Roberts in a primary before winning re-election in a district heavily favored by Democrats, the outlet reported.
In her speech, she reflected on her efforts in 2021 when she and others camped outside the U.S. Capitol in protest against the impending end of an eviction moratorium put in place during the COVID pandemic, remaining until an agreement for an extension was reached.
An outspoken critic of the Israeli government’s policies on Gaza and U.S. support for Israel, Bush was defeated by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell in the August primary after voters in her district grew weary of her far-left positions.
Bush voted against the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, a signature Biden administration accomplishment, in protest after Biden’s full “Build Back Better” agenda was scaled back.
“When the President asked us to fight for his full economic agenda, I fought. We fought,” she said Thursday, with a couple of the other ‘Squad’ members in attendance.
“But for a few corporate Democrats, the Build Back Better Act would be the law of the land now. We would have stopped talking about rising inflation and instead delivered on universal pre-K and affordable childcare, a permanent, monthly child tax credit, paid leave, free school meals, investments in our caregivers, historic funding to build new affordable housing and rehabilitate crumbling housing stock, expanded Medicare benefits, taxes on billionaire corporations and the ultra-wealthy so that they can finally pay their fair share, and lastly, removing every lead pipe poisoning our communities,” Bush continued.
“We may have lost that fight, but there must be a reckoning. The November election has shown that we were right to fight with everything we had for Build Back Better. This party must do better,” she added.
Another far-left ‘Squad’ member, Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York, also lost his reelection bid.
Since last January, Bush has faced increased scrutiny after revealing an FBI investigation into her use of campaign funds for private security, including payments to her now-husband, though she has denied any wrongdoing.
While Bush has not shared specific plans for her future, she has hinted that a return to the Capitol may be in her sights, the local outlet reported.
“While my time in Congress may be coming to an end for now, for now…. know this, I came into Congress with my voice. Congress did not give that to me. Congress can not take that away when I leave,” she said.
In the August primary, Bell led Bush by double digits, with 54.9% of the vote to Bush’s 41.8% when Decision Desk HQ called the race.
Republicans ridiculed Bush on social media in the wake of her primary defeat.
Pro-Trump comedian Terrance K. Williams posted on X, formerly Twitter: “A ‘BLACK JOB’ IS SOMETHING CORI BUSH DOES NOT HAVE. OH HAPPY DAY! OH HAPPY DAY.
“She is the Second Squad member to lose her seat! I can’t wait until they are all gone. They are all full of hate [and] stupidity. I’m laughing so hard. Who’s laughing with me?” he added.
In a sarcastic post, then-Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, who sat on the House Judiciary Committee along with Bush, wrote: “I will miss Cori Bush missing every committee meeting.”
Ryan Fournier, a co-founder of the Students for Trump group, posted: “The Squad’s Cori Bush has LOST her primary. Join me in saying GOOD RIDDANCE! Hamas might be hiring, Cori!”
