U.S. Representatives Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush, in their final speeches in Congress during this session, urged for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called for the end of American financial and political support for what they denounced as genocide in the region, repeating the rallying cry “Free Palestine.”
Both Bowman and Bush will not return to the House of Representatives for the next session (January 2025 - January 2027) after facing electoral defeats. Their losses came as a result of a systematic campaign by the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which reportedly spent approximately $30 million targeting their districts in the primaries, leading to their defeats.
Cori Bush, in her closing remarks, reaffirmed her commitment to the liberation of Palestine and her opposition to war and violence. She stated, “I will fight for peace and against wars and for humanity. I will continue to stand for a free Palestine, Sudan, and Haiti, and I will fight for the people in our country against bigotry and extremism, and for survivors of violence and justice.”
Jamaal Bowman also addressed systemic inequities, stating: “We have money for wars but cannot feed the poor. We spend more than $886 billion on defense—more than the next ten largest countries combined—while millions suffer from poverty and lack of security, healthcare, and education.” He emphasized that public funds should instead address community needs, adding, “We succeeded in organizing a community based on love and humanity in our country,” and chanting, “Free Palestine and Bronx.”
The new House of Representatives will begin its session after the Christmas holidays on January 3. According to reports, AIPAC spent around $8.5 million to undermine Cori Bush’s image, contributing to her primary defeat in St. Louis, Missouri, to Wesley Bell. Similarly, AIPAC reportedly spent about $20 million against Bowman, leading to his loss in New York’s Democratic primary to George Latimer. This highlights the significant influence of campaign donations on U.S. elections.
