Since Democrats took control of the House of Representatives in 2018, the "squad" of freshman lefties — composed of Reps. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar — has gotten a great deal of media attention. But the Democratic leadership has been less impressed. "They're four people," Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi scoffed earlier this year.
However, these women will have some new allies in the next Congress. Thanks to primary victories in deep-blue districts, at least three more new members will be joining them. There is Cori Bush, a Black Lives Matter activist who won in Missouri's 1st district, Jamaal Bowman, a former middle school principal who won in New York's 16th district, and Mondaire Jones, a former attorney who won in New York's 17th district. The first two also ousted longtime incumbents.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
The new powers to stop stalking in the UKThe Explainer Updated guidance could help protect more victims, but public is losing trust in police and battered criminal justice system
-
'Criminal trail?'Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
-
Grindr 'shared user HIV status' with ad firms, lawsuit claimsSpeed Read LGBTQ dating app accused of breaching UK data protection laws in case filed at London's High Court
-
Is the Supreme Court about to criminalize homelessness?Talking Points The court will decide if bans on outdoor camping are 'cruel and unusual'
-
Myanmar: the Spring Revolution and the downfall of the generalsTalking Point An armed protest movement has swept across the country since the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown in 2021
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion banSpeed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling BiblesSpeed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitnessIn Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
-
It's not really about Biden's brain — unless it isTalking Points Depending on who you ask, the renewed focus on the president's mental acuity is an election-year distraction, a legitimate point of concern, and sometimes both
-
The politics of music: should political rallies use well-known songs?Talking Point The Smiths star Johnny Marr is latest musician to object to use of his music at a Donald Trump rally
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
