Former Rep. Cori Bush, an ousted member of the progressive Squad who lost her St. Louis-based seat in 2024, is campaigning to return to Congress alongside a self-described Maoist activist whose online posts have included statements defending Hamas and Hezbollah, praising flag desecration, and discussing political violence.
The activist, Christopher Winston, operates under the pseudonym "BlackRedGuard" across multiple platforms and has built an online presence discussing Marxist organizing within the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). In videos and social media posts reviewed by news outlets, Winston asked, "What's wrong with throwing molotovs at a police station?" and stated, "If you say stuff like 'I don't support Hezbollah/Hamas' and call yourself a leftist you lame."
Winston has also posted that the American flag "should always be desecrated" and called to "unmake" America. In one video discussing his Maoist philosophy within DSA, Winston said, "There's a lot of naive young white people to brainwash." A 2023 post from his account stated he had "dreams of riding into power on a tank like Fidel and Che," while praising Bush as "the best congressperson right now."
Bush's campaign did not directly answer questions about Winston's formal role, whether she knows him personally, or if he was invited to campaign events. The campaign provided a link to a Fox News article about Joy Behar defending democratic socialism in response.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive supporters of Bush's candidacy point to her work on healthcare access, police reform, and housing issues during her time in Congress as evidence of her commitment to serving constituents. Defenders argue that political opponents routinely attempt to disqualify candidates through guilt-by-association tactics rather than engaging with their actual policy positions.
Some progressive commentators have noted that DSA, a broad coalition of left-leaning activists, includes members with wide-ranging views on tactics and philosophy. Supporters contend that Bush's electoral record in a heavily Democratic district demonstrates constituent support for her approach to representation regardless of online rhetoric by individuals she encounters during campaigns.
What the Right Is Saying
Critics of Bush's candidacy point to Winston's documented statements as evidence of radical elements within her political network. Republicans argue that association with someone who defended designated foreign terrorist organizations raises serious questions about a candidate's judgment and foreign policy positions.
Other Republican strategists have highlighted that Bush's campaign has faced prior scrutiny over financial ties, including payments exceeding $20,000 to consulting firms linked to activists with connections to other progressive members of Congress. Opponents say these patterns reveal the broader political ecosystem supporting her candidacy.
What the Numbers Show
Bush represented Missouri's 1st Congressional District from 2021 until losing her 2024 primary bid to fellow Democrat Wesley Bell by approximately 3 percentage points, 49.5% to 46.6%, in a district that favored Democratic candidates by significant margins in federal elections. The district includes the city of St. Louis and surrounding areas.
DSA has endorsed progressive candidates across multiple congressional districts, with varying degrees of electoral success. The organization reported having members in all 50 states as of its most recent public membership data.
The Bottom Line
Bush's comeback campaign illustrates ongoing tensions within the Democratic Party between establishment-aligned candidates and more progressive factions that gained influence during the previous decade. Her association with activists whose online rhetoric has included statements about political violence and defenses of designated terrorist organizations provides opponents material for criticism while her supporters argue she remains committed to core progressive priorities.
Whether these associations affect electoral outcomes in reliably Democratic districts remains an open question. Bush faces a primary challenge as she seeks to reclaim the seat she lost, with both progressive groups and more moderate Democrats likely to compete for support ahead of the next election cycle.