Tlaib, Bush form joint fundraising committee ahead of Bush’s primary

Progressives Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.) have formed a joint fundraising committee, Tlaib’s office confirmed to The Hill. 

The committee, dubbed “Sisters Saving Lives,” was filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on Thursday. 

Tlaib and Bush, both members who have been critical of Israel’s handling of the war against Hamas, started the committee because of the “threat” American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) poses to progressive lawmakers critical of the country, according to a source familiar with the matter. AIPAC is expected to spend $100 million across various races in 2024 with Bush being one of the primary targets. 

Bush is running in a competitive primary against St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell in Missouri’s 1st District. In a poll from February, conducted by the GOP-leaning Remington Research Group, Bush was down 22 points against Bell, who was recently endorsed by The Democratic Majority for Israel PAC. 

The new committee will be a fundraising boost for Bush who, so far, has been narrowly outraised by Bell. He brought in $492,149 in donations while the “Squad” member had $487,000. 

A joint fundraising committee allows donors to write a check of up to $13,200 during an election cycle which can be dispersed between candidates. The $6,600 donation limit per candidate per election cycle is still in effect. 

Bush easily won her 2022 election. In this year’s primary, slated for August, she will benefit from Tlaib’s strong fundraising numbers. 

The Michigan Democrat, the only Palestinian-American member of Congress, raised $3.7 million during the fourth quarter of last year, according to FEC filings, a number comparable to Senators and candidates running to be in the upper chamber. She also reported having $3.8 million cash on hand. Pro-Israel groups have been trying to recruit a primary challenger, but none has stepped up so far.