DSA throws support behind Cori Bush as Democratic Socialists gain momentum

Tuesday, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) announced their endorsement of Missouri's 1st District representative, Cori Bush, on X.

"It's time to beat AIPAC once and for all," the post read. "DSA is proud to endorse Cori Bush for Congress. Cori is taking her seat back to fight for the world St. Louisans deserve—one where our taxes pay for our communities, not war. Help elect a working-class champion with a donation today."

The self-described socialist has served in Congress since 2020 and has consistently advocated for policies that expand government power, including Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. Bush has also called for student debt cancellation and defunding the police, although in 2021 she spent $70,000 in campaign funds on private security for herself. Bush defended this choice to CBS.

"I have private security because my body is worth being on this planet right now," she insisted. "I have private security because they, the white supremacist racist narrative that they drive into this country. The fact that they don't care that this Black woman that has put her life on the line, they can't match my energy, first of all."

Bush has been endorsed by the DSA several times, including in 2020, 2022 and 2024. Her 2024 endorsement read as follows:

"DSA is honored to join St. Louis DSA in re-endorsing Cori Bush for the U.S. House of Representatives, Missouri District 1," the DSA wrote. "Cori has been an exemplar of democratic socialist politics since being elected in 2020, and has been unwavering in her solidarity with the working class.

"This year, Cori made history by naming the suffering and injustice borne by Palestinians when few of her colleagues dared, and authored a resolution for a ceasefire in the earliest weeks of Israel's bombing. DSA has been fighting with Cori and co-sponsors of her resolution ever since. Hundreds of DSA members have made hundreds of thousands of calls to urge support for a ceasefire. We will keep calling. We will fight, no matter how many nasty names Congress calls us."

This comes as a spate of DSA-endorsed candidates won primaries across New York, Pennsylvania and Colorado. The leftward lurch of the party comes to the chagrin of many more moderate, establishment-type Democrats.

Jaime Harrison, who served as the former chair of the Democratic National Committee, railed against the socialist candidates running under the Democratic Party brand.

"I say this with no ill will or animosity: if you hate the Democratic Party, then please don't run for our nomination," Harrison wrote on social media. "Don't use our resources. Don't rely on our volunteers. Don't use our infrastructure. Focus on building the party you actually support."