Pro-Israel groups spent big to oust two Squad members in primaries

Pro-Israel groups spent big to oust two Squad members in primaries, but they didn't splash cash to oppose all high-profile progressives.

Incumbents rarely lose primaries, and in 2024 was no different.

Two of the Democrats who lost their primaries — Reps. Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri — were defeated in contests heavily shaped by outside groups motivated by the conflict in Israel and Gaza .

Pro-Israel groups went two for two when they jumped into contests against Squad members, but other factors were at play that complicate the narrative about their sway.

Bowman and Bush were arguably the most vulnerable Squad members this cycle, making them perhaps the lowest-hanging fruit for anti-Squad groups.

Bowman was censured and had to pay a fine for pulling a fire alarm in a Capitol office building before a government shutdown.

AIPAC/UDP/DMFI went four for five in Democratic primaries it spent money in.

J Street, another pro-Palestinian group, didn't have as much success with its endorsements.

But J Street found less success in open primary races, with only 19 of 34 endorsees advancing to the general election.

Ultimately, pro-Israel groups made gains in Congress by taking out two vocal critics of support for Israel .