The Squad has been said to represent the advocacy of progressive policies such asMedicare for All, theGreen New Deal, and tuition-free college, which the party leadership may not support.[10][11][12][13] Ocasio-Cortez coined the name "Squad" in anInstagram post a week after the 2018 election. The photo, taken at aVoteRunLead event where the four founding members spoke, subsequently went viral.[14] The grouping has since officially adopted the moniker by launching the Squad Victory Fund, apolitical action committee.[15]
The colloquial use of the word "squad" arose fromEast Coast hip hop culture and describes "a self-chosen group of people that hope you want to identify with them". Its use by Ocasio-Cortez signaled familiarity withmillennial slang[16] as a playful reference toyouth social cliques.[9] Hip-hop originated in her home borough,The Bronx. Musical acts with "Squad" in their names and lyrics have existed since the 1990s.[17]
The New York Times considers the Squadsui generis, not fitting neatly into the usual congressional groups: the gang (a bipartisan group focused on particular legislation) or thecaucus (apressure group based on special interests). It notes that the term has a militaristic connotation, conveying values of self-defense, allegiance, and having "something important to protect".[17] Some Republicans have used the moniker pejoratively, but the four original women use it to express solidarity among themselves and with supporters.[16] For example, the Justice Democrats quoted Pressley saying: "We are more than four people... Our squad includes any person committed to creating a more equitable and just world."[18] Before new members joined the original 2018 elected members, President Trump referred to the Squad as "AOC+3"[19]
The average age of the Squad was 38.3 as of mid-2019, nearly 20 years under the overall House average age of 57.6.[17]
Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley unseatedJoe Crowley andMike Capuano, respectively, inprimary elections. Omar won the seat previously held by DemocratKeith Ellison, who retired from the House to successfully run forAttorney General of Minnesota, and Tlaib won the seat once held byDean of the HouseJohn Conyers, who resigned in 2017 after nearly 53 years in Congress. At least three Squad members provided fundraising and volunteer assistance during the other members' campaigns.[20]
According to Pressley, she and Ocasio-Cortez had met before Freshman Orientation Week for the116th United States Congress. During that event a week after Election Day, on November 12, 2018, all four Squad members participated in a livestreamed interview with Jodi Jacobson fromRewire.News, organized byVoteRunLead, and took a group picture. Ocasio-Cortez published the picture onInstagram, labeling it "Squad";[14][21] Pressley published it on her Instagram story the same day.[17] The next day, they had already attracted negative attention in conservative media, asLaura Ingraham ofFox News called them "thefour horsewomen of the apocalypse".[22] The four women, known for theirsocial media savvy, regularly defend each other's policies and remarks.[9]
After publication, Ocasio-Cortez's Squad photo became aviral phenomenon, and public figures, notablyNew York Times columnistMaureen Dowd and White House counselorKellyanne Conway, began using "The Squad" to refer collectively to the four women. Dowd had used the term in an interview with House speakerNancy Pelosi, who criticized the Squad collectively without naming them.[16] Another photo of the three members who served on theHouse Oversight Committee duringMichael Cohen's testimony also got viral attention.[23]
On July 16, theHouse of Representatives condemned Trump's remarks in H.Res. 489.[27] Over the following days, Trump continued to attack the four Squad members, saying at a July 17 campaign rally: "They never have anything good to say. That's why I say, 'Hey if you don't like it, let 'em leave, let 'em leave.' ... I think in some cases they hate our country."[28] While Trump criticized Omar, the North Carolina crowd chanted, "Send her back, send her back!"[29][30] Trump also falsely claimed that the four had used the term "evil Jews"; none of them has been reported to have used the term.[31] The same day, the Republican Party launched apolitical advertisement against the Squad, titled "Squad Goals: Anarchy" and focusing on the Squad's role in theAbolish ICE movement.[32]
ACBS News andYouGov poll of almost 2,100 American adults conducted from July 17 to 19 found that Republican respondents were more aware than Democratic respondents of the four Squad members. The congresswomen had very unfavorable ratings among Republican respondents and favorable ratings among Democratic respondents.[33] In aNew York Times opinion piece the historianBarbara Ransby wrote, "The squad has tilled new ground in reanimating a fighting spirit within the Democratic Party and revived its left flank."[34]
In July 2019, the Illinois Republican County Chairmen's Association called the four women the "Jihad Squad" in a Facebook post that was later deleted.Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider condemned "evoking race or religion as the basis for political disagreement".[35]
In August 2019,Israel blocked Omar and Tlaib from visiting the country, a reversal ofIsraeli Ambassador to the United StatesRon Dermer's July statement that "any member of Congress" would be allowed in. A spokesman for Israeli Interior MinisterArye Deri attributed the ban to Omar and Tlaib's support for BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions). A spokesman for Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu said that Omar and Tlaib intended only to visitthe Palestinian Territories and had not scheduled a meeting with any Israeli politicians. Less than two hours before the ban, President Trump had tweeted that for Israel to allow the visit would "show great weakness" when Omar and Tlaib "hate Israel & all Jewish people".[36] Omar responded that Netanyahu had caved to Trump's demand and that "Trump'sMuslim ban is what Israel is implementing". Tlaib described the ban as "weakness". American legislators from both parties criticized the ban and requested that Israel withdraw it.[37][38] Trump applauded the ban while continuing his criticism of Omar and Tlaib, calling them "the face of theDemocrat Party, and they HATE Israel".[39] A day after the ban was imposed, Tlaib was granted permission to enter Israel to visit her family on the condition that she "committed to accept all the demands of Israel to respect the restrictions imposed on her in the visit" and "promised not to advance boycotts against Israel during the visit". In response, she said she would not visit Israel, tweeting that doing so would "stand against everything [she] believe[s] in—fighting against racism, oppression, and injustice".[40]
In July, the four set up "The Squad Victory Fund", a joint action committee, to raise money for their campaigns and other progressive campaigns.[42][43]
All four members again won the Democratic nomination in their districts. Pressley was unchallenged in her primary, while Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib, and Omar defeated challengers, including Tlaib's House predecessor,Brenda Jones, by large margins.[44]
On January 3, 2021,Cori Bush andJamaal Bowman joined the Squad at the start of the 117th United States Congress. Both defeated incumbent Democrats in their primaries—Lacy Clay andEliot Engel, respectively. Bush posted a photo on Twitter of herself, Bowman, and the four original Squad members with the caption "Squad up."[45][46]
All six members won the Democratic nomination in their districts. Pressley was again unopposed, as was Ocasio-Cortez, while Tlaib, Bush, and Bowman all garnered over 60% of the vote in their primaries. Omar faced significant opposition from establishment-oriented local officials in her district, most notablyMinneapolis MayorJacob Frey. Omar had endorsed a challenger in Frey's2021 reelection campaign. Despite the backlash, Omar won her primary by a 2.1% margin.[47][48]
After Casar and Lee won their primaries, it was reported that they would join the Squad as well.[49] Ramirez was identified in 2024 as a member of the Squad in campaigns byJustice Democrats and Progressive Democrats of America, and embraced the label.[50][51]
Bowman lost the primary toGeorge Latimer, becoming the first Squad member to lose their seat.[52]
Bush became the second Squad member to be defeated, losing the primary toWesley Bell.[53]
Both were hurt by their stances on Israel, which resulted inAIPAC supporting their challengers.[7] However, it was noted that both had vulnerabilities that the other seven did not, such as Bowman's censure for knowingly activating a false fire alarm in Congress and Bush's alleged misuse of federal security money. Bush has threatened revenge against AIPAC once "untied from the strings of Congress".[7] AIPAC did not support Omar's primary opponent, former Minneapolis City Council memberDon Samuels, even though Samuels had won 48% of the vote in the2022 primary without their backing. He received 43% in2024.[54]
All members of the Squad endorsedKamala Harris for president in 2024 except Tlaib, who did not issue an endorsement.[55][56][57]
Squad members generally hold political views considered to be on the left, on subjects such as immigration detention facilities,Islamophobia,universal health care, human rights, the Israel–Palestine conflict, and climate change.[58] This section lists some beliefs typical of Squad members.
Squad members such as Omar,[60] Ocasio-Cortez,[61] and Tlaib[62] are outspoken againstIslamophobia. In 2021, Ocasio-Cortez said, "Islamophobia is far too often tolerated and ignored."[61]
On November 5, 2021, all six Squad members voted against theInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act because they believed thatmoderate Democrats in the House and SenatorsJoe Manchin andKyrsten Sinema would not vote for theBuild Back Better Act. Nine House Democrats had previously refused to vote for the Build Back Better Act until the infrastructure bill was signed,[63] and both Manchin and Sinema had expressed opposition to key aspects of the Act.[64] After resolving certain disagreements, the infrastructure bill passed the House with the votes of every Democrat (and 13 Republicans) except the members of the Squad.[65][66]
According to CNN, Squad members are notable for "their criticism of the US relationship with Israel".[67] After the beginning of theGaza war, seven Squad members were among ten U.S. representatives to vote against a House resolution supporting Israel and condemningHamas' attack on Israel; Pressley and Casarvoted "present".[68] The warbegan following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel,[69][70] which has been condemned as aterrorist attack by the European Union (EU)[71] and at least 44 countries, including the United States.[72][73]
On October 16, 2023, after Israeli strikes in Gaza killed 3,000,[78] Squad members introduced a resolution calling for "an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine" to save as many lives as possible. The resolution was endorsed by groups includingIfNotNow, theInstitute for Middle East Understanding, andJewish Voice for Peace[79]
On July 10, 2024, the National Political Committee (NPC) of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) withdrew its endorsement of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The NPC cited her sponsorship of a panel focused on combating antisemitism, which included Jewish leaders, arguing that it "conflated anti-Zionism with antisemitism" and describing her sponsorship as "a deep betrayal". The decision also referenced her vote in favor of aHouse resolution reaffirming Israel's right to exist, condemning the Hamas-led attack, and stating that "denying Israel's right to exist is a form of antisemitism", which the NPC criticized for "conflating opposition to Israel's right to exist with antisemitism".[80][81]
Since the formation of 'the Squad' members of the group have advanced leadership positions within theCongressional Progressive Caucus as well as leadership positions in the Democratic Caucus.
On December 5, 2024 the Progressive caucus unanimously votedGreg Casar to be chair of the caucus.Ilhan Omar was re-elected as Deputy chair of the caucus, a position she has held since 2023.Delia Ramirez andRashida Tlaib, both currently serve as Vice chairs of the caucus.[82][83]
During a 2024House Oversight Committee Democrats Discussion onSupreme Court Ethics[85] convened by Representatives Ocasio-Cortez andJamie Raskin, Ocasio-Cortez said that the U.S. Supreme Court had been "captured and corrupted by money and extremism", causing a "crisis of legitimacy" that threatened the stability of U.S. democracy, and that "House Democrats are committed to informing the public about why the court's conservative super majority is rolling back critical economic freedoms, civil rights, and environmental protections, and what we can do about it".[86][87] Pressley renewed her calls for Supreme Court expansion, a binding code of ethics for justices, and investigations into JusticesSamuel Alito,Clarence Thomas, andBrett Kavanaugh for "their acceptances of lavish, secret gifts from right-wing megadonors".[88] Lee stressed the need for Supreme Court ethics reform.[89]
During a speech on the House floor, Tlaib called forimpeachment of Alito and Thomas for "accepting bribes and doing the bidding of right-wing extremists", and called for expanding the Supreme Court and enacting term limits for justices.[90] Omar and other representatives introduced the Judicial Ethics Enforcement Act of 2024 to create an Office of the Inspector General empowered to conduct investigations of alleged violations of theCode of Conduct for Justices of the Supreme Court.[91] In 2023, Bush and other representatives had introduced the Judiciary Act of 2023, calling for expansion of the Supreme Court. Bush also called for Thomas's impeachment and Alito's resignation.[92]
The four original members of the Squad had already been discussed as a group, even before the name was widely adopted.[16][22] However, according toMediaite, the news media currently uses "Squad" to refer to the group "almost exclusively".[96]
Becca Balint andMaxwell Frost, who both won Democratic primaries in safe Democratic seats in 2022, were also named as potential Squad members but never officially joined the group.[105][106][107][108][109]
Vigdor, Neil (August 13, 2024)."Ilhan Omar, a Vocal Critic of Israel and 'Squad' Member, Wins Her Primary".The New York Times. RetrievedDecember 27, 2024.Two other House Democrats who are part of the left-wing 'squad' lost primary contests this summer after an influx of spending by pro-Israel groups.
"Ilhan Omar survives latest test for the "Squad"".The Economist. August 14, 2024. RetrievedDecember 27, 2024.Ms Omar is part of the 'Squad', a group of left-wing members of Congress, two of whom were defeated in recent primaries.
Crisp, Elizabeth (August 13, 2024)."Omar is latest 'squad' member to face primary test".The Hill.ISSN0190-8286. RetrievedDecember 27, 2024.It's been a tough election year for the once-lauded left-wing squad. Two members, Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri and Jamaal Bowman of New York, lost their reelection bids to more moderate primary opponents earlier this year.
^abGonzález-Ramírez, Andrea (November 14, 2018)."The New Class Of Congresswomen Is Already Taking D.C. By Storm". Refinery29.Archived from the original on May 4, 2019. RetrievedJuly 17, 2019.Their shared identity as young women from underrepresented communitiesand smart politicians pushing the Democratic party to the left has created an unbreakable bond.
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