Squad (U.S. Congress)

Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pressley
Tlaib
Bowman
Bush
Casar
Lee
Ramirez
The nine members of the Squad:

Founding members

Subsequent additions

The Squad is a far-left, progressive grouping in the U.S. House of Representatives forming part of the Democratic Caucus.[1] All are members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

The squad was initially composed of four members elected in the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections:

The grouping expanded following the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections with newly elected Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri joining. They were joined by Greg Casar of Texas, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, and Delia Ramirez of Illinois following the 2022 elections. In the 2024 elections, Bowman and Bush were defeated in their primaries meaning they will be leaving the group in the 119th Congress.[3]

The Squad's members have been supported by the Justice Democrats political action committee, and are on the left wing of the Democratic Party.[4][5] 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.[6][7][8][9] 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.[10] The grouping has since officially adopted the moniker by launching the Squad Victory Fund, a political action committee.[11]

  1. ^ Sources for "far left" McHugh, Calder (January 4, 2024). "The Squad under siege". Politico. the Democratic "Squad," the group of far-left House membersCaldwell, Leigh Ann; Meyer, Theodoric; Dent, Alec (June 25, 2024). "Analysis | Bowman's primary resurfaces Democratic divisions". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 25, 2024. Bowman, a member of the far-left 'Squad,' hasBarkan, Ross (February 22, 2023). "'The Democratic Party in New York Is a Disaster'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 25, 2024. Jamaal Bowman, a Westchester County congressman and a member of the Squad, the prominent group of far-left members of Congress, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar."Bowman slams AIPAC in final debate with Latimer". Punchbowl News. Retrieved June 25, 2024. Bowman is embracing underdog status in his competitive primary against Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who is seeking to be the first mainstream Democrat to knock off a member of the far-left Squad.Sotomayor, Marianna; Caldwell, Leigh Ann (August 5, 2024). "Why St. Louis voters might ditch Cori Bush". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 7, 2024. a second member of the House's far-left "Squad" Sources for "progressive" Sullivan, Kate (July 16, 2024). "Here are the 4 congresswomen known as 'The Squad' targeted by Trump's racist tweets". CNN. Wu, Nicholas (February 4, 2024). "The Squad at a crossroads". Politico. Amri, Farnoush; Izaguirre, Anthony (August 16, 2024). "Why the progressive 'Squad' is getting smaller after defeats this primary cycle". AP News.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference targeted was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Robertson, Nick (August 7, 2024). "Cori Bush calls out AIPAC after defeat: 'I'm coming to tear your kingdom down'". The Hill. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Cornwell, Susan (October 21, 2019). "Expanding the 'Squad:' U.S. liberals challenge moderate Democrats to move party left". Reuters. Archived from the original on November 13, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019. 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.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Zanona was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Davis, Julie Hirschfeld (July 9, 2019). "Tensions Between Pelosi and Progressive Democrats of 'the Squad' Burst Into Flame". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  7. ^ Mason, Jeff; Cornwell, Susan (July 15, 2019). "Trump Defiant as Lawmakers Blast His 'Racist' Attacks on Four Congresswomen". Reuters. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  8. ^ Davis, Julie Hirschfeld (July 15, 2019). "After Trump Accuses Four Democratic Congresswomen of Hating U.S., They Fire Back". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  9. ^ "A Look at the 'Squad' That Trump Targeted in Racist Tweets". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 15, 2019. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  10. ^ Folley, Aris (November 13, 2018). "Ocasio-Cortez shares photo of new 'squad' on Capitol Hill". The Hill. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  11. ^ Goba, Kadia (July 1, 2020). ""The Squad" Is Raising Money To Fight For Progressive Candidates". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved November 5, 2024.