The 'Squad' Is Growing

The number of young progressives toppling incumbents is on the rise [Cori Bush gives her victory speech at her campaign office on Tuesday in St. Louis.]( Michael B. Thomas/Getty Image Spotlight: Progressives Are 'Here To Stay' The big result from the primaries in multiple states Tuesday night was [the upset pulled off by Cori Bush]( a 44-year-old nurse and Black Lives Matter activist. She defeated 20-year incumbent William Lacy Clay, whose family — between him and his father — had represented this St. Louis-area district for half a century. The district, which Democrat Hillary Clinton won with 77% of the vote in the 2016 presidential election, includes Ferguson, which saw mass protests in 2014 after the death of Michael Brown, a black teenager who was shot and killed by police. Bush gained prominence during those protests as an activist. “If you don’t know, now you know,” said Alexandra Rojas, executive director of the progressive group Justice Democrats, which backed Bush, channeling rapper The Notorious B.I.G. “The Squad is here to stay, and it’s growing.” “The Squad” refers to a group of young, progressive members of Congress, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. And the number of young progressives set to take seats in the next Congress is growing. Ocasio-Cortez was backed by the Justice Democrats in her 2018 race, and [launched her own super PAC]( earlier this year. She has endorsed progressive candidates and primary challengers in roughly half a dozen House and Senate races. Last month, for example, in New York, Jamaal Bowman, a former high school principal, [knocked off longtime Rep. Eliot Engel]( chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In total, so far, [a record seven incumbents]( — with 100 years between them since being first elected — have lost in their bids for reelection. But it’s hardly just a Democratic phenomenon. In fact, more Republican incumbents (four) have lost than Democrats (three). What’s going on is both ideological and generational. Leadership in Congress is aging, and there has been little room for advancement for younger members. And there’s an urgency and impatience among a younger generation on the left for what it sees as a lack of progress — and effective fighting against President Trump and Republicans. On the GOP side, there is a fissure between pro-Trump ideologues ([some with conspiratorial views]( who have in some ways been an outgrowth of the Tea Party, versus traditional, establishment Republicans. Since 1994, polarization has taken hold in Congress with positions becoming more sharply defined and divergence from the party line punished. But in the past decade — first with the Tea Party on the right and now progressives on the left — there are sharp divides within the parties. On the right that plays out in spending, foreign affairs and culture; on the left it's primarily with climate change and income inequality. The intra-party fight on the left is going to give some Democrats heart burn because moderates, who won in right-leaning districts in 2018, helped the party take control of the House. And Trump’s campaign is eagerly trying to paint Biden as beholden to the left. No matter who wins the presidential election in November, the two parties will likely be farther apart — and so will members within those parties. — Domenico Montanaro, NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Poll worker]( John Minchillo/AP Number of the week: 58% The percentage of poll workers who are 61 or older, according to the [U.S. Election Assistance Commission](. What’s more, almost 84% of poll workers are 41 or older. That is raising concerns of a poll worker shortage this fall, given the coronavirus pandemic has adversely affected older people. There’s at least one group that [NPR has reported on]( the Alliance of Students at the Polls, that is trying to fill the gap and get younger people to work the polls. Where the race stands: Biden 50%, Trump 42% Biden has remained steady at or near 50% for several months, while President Trump has seen a 4-point decline in support from 46% in March, the same percentage he won in 2016, according to the [FiveThirtyEight average of the polls](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [Illustration] Clare Schneider/NPR You. Are. Guac. Last week we asked for your favorite books about travel and adventure. Dee from Santa Cruz, Calif., has this to say about The Sixteen Pleasures by Robert Hellenga: "A young woman goes to Florence in 1966 when the Arno flooded. She’s one of the 'mud angels' who is helping to save manuscripts and ancient works of art. She is housed in a convent and befriends the nuns, who eventually enlist her help to … I won’t spoil it for you." Shout out to Dee — not just because I grew up near Santa Cruz, but also for this email signature: "Don’t let anyone treat you like free salsa. You are guac, baby. You. Are. Guac." Speaking of food ... any new quarantine hobbies? Skills you'd like to share with the group? [Let us know what you've been up to](mailto:nprpolitics@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback%3A%20New%20Hobbies). — Dana Farrington, NPR Digital Editor, Washington Desk --------------------------------------------------------------- Correction In Saturday's email, we mistakenly referred to Election Day as "the first Monday after the first Tuesday in November." It is, in fact, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Thank you to those who brought this to our attention. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [nprpolitics@npr.org](mailto:nprpolitics@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! 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