The Squad (United States Congress)

Ocasio-Cortez

Omar

Pressley

Tlaib

Bowman

Bush

Casar

Lee

Ramirez

The nine members of the Squad:

Founding members

Subsequent additions

The Squad is an informal left-wing group of seven Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives.^[1] It had nine members at its high point. The Squad is known for being among the most progressive and left-wing members of the United States Congress.

The squad was initially composed of four women under the age of 50,^[2] elected in the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections:

They have since been joined by Greg Casar of Texas, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, and Delia Ramirez of Illinois following the 2022 elections. Two previous members, Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri, joined following the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections, but will lose their seats after the 2024 election cycle, as they failed to win in their primaries.^[1]

Members have been supported by the Justice Democrats political action committee, and are on the left wing of the Democratic Party.^[3]^[4] 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. All but Omar, Pressley, and Ramirez are currently or formerly affiliated with Democratic Socialists of America, with Ocasio-Cortez, Bowman, Tlaib, and Bush being currently endorsed.^[when?]

The Squad has been said to represent the advocacy of progressive policies supported by some in the younger political generation, such as Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and tuition-free college, which have sometimes clashed with their party's leadership.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8] Ocasio-Cortez coined the "Squad" name 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.^[9]

^ ^a ^b 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.
^ Cite error: The named reference targeted was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ 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.
^ Cite error: The named reference Zanona was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ "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.
^ 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.

[:3-1] 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.

[targeted-2] Cite error: The named reference targeted was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Cornwell-3] 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.

[Zanona-4] Cite error: The named reference Zanona was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[5] 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.

[:4-6] 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.

[7] 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.

[8] "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.

[:0-9] 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.

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