The Squad is an informal group of nine Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives.[1] The Squad is known for being among the most progressive and left-wing members of the United States Congress. All are members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
The squad was initially composed of four women under age 50,[2] elected in the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections:
They were joined by Greg Casar of Texas, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, and Delia Ramirez of Illinois following the 2022 elections. Two members, Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri, joined following the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections, but will be leaving the group when they lose their seats after the 2024 election cycle, as they failed to win their primaries.[1]
The Squad's members have been supported by the Justice Democrats political action committee, and are on the left wing of the Democratic Party.[3][4] Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley, Bush and Bowman were initially elected to Congress after unseating incumbents in primary challenges. All but Lee represent safe seats, with Cook Partisan Voting Index scores of at least D+20. Geographically, all but the Texan Casar hail from the Midwestern United States or Northeastern United States. All but Omar, Pressley, and Ramirez are currently or formerly affiliated with Democratic Socialists of America, with Bowman, Tlaib, and Bush currently endorsed.[when?]
The Squad has been said to represent the advocacy of progressive policies that some in the younger political generation support, such as Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and tuition-free college, which the party leadership may not support.[5][6][7][8] Ocasio-Cortez coined the name "Squad" in an Instagram post a week after the 2018 election. The photo, taken at a VoteRunLead event where the four founding members spoke, subsequently went viral.[9]
targeted
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Ocasio-Cortez [...] has since become the face of the 'Squad,' freshman Democrats aiming to move the party farther left on issues such as healthcare and climate change.
Zanona
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).