During the votes for Speaker of the House, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL-19) becomes a candidate due to continued division over Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
As such, for the first time in American history, both candidates for Speaker of the House are Black. Most people would consider this a positive, but not to progressive "Squad" member Cori Bush (D-MO).
Shortly after Donalds' nomination, Rep. Bush tweeted that "[for what it's worth],@ByronDonalds is not a historic candidate for Speaker." She also says of Donalds that "he is a prop." Moreover, she adds that "despite being Black, he supports a policy agenda intent on upholding and perpetuating white supremacy."
Finally, she concludes "his name being in the mix is not progress—it’s pathetic."
FWIW, @ByronDonalds is not a historic candidate for Speaker. He is a prop. Despite being Black, he supports a policy agenda intent on upholding and perpetuating white supremacy.
His name being in the mix is not progress—it’s pathetic.
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) January 4, 2023
Donalds, however, was quick to fire back at Bush.
"[for what it's worth], nobody asked @CoriBush her opinion on the matter. Before you judge my agenda, let's have a debate over the policies and the outcomes. Until then, don't be a crab in a barrel," quipped Donalds in a tweet.
FWIW, nobody asked @CoriBush her opinion on the matter. Before you judge my agenda, let's have a debate over the policies and the outcomes. Until then, don't be a crab in a barrel! https://t.co/QF2OubL4mO
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) January 4, 2023
This is not the first time Bush has quarreled with Florida lawmakers.
In the spring of 2021, prior to his congressional election, Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL-7) became a target of Bush and the rest of the Squad, who demanded that he ve investigated for his company PACEM Defense's manufacture of tear gas that may have been used to disperse rioters during the summer 2020 protests in response to the police murder of George Floyd.
More recently, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) told The Floridian that it is still possible Mills will be made to testify for his company's actions.
"I don't want to speak too much because there's going to be legal structures about what that distancing looks like, what leadership looks like, ultimately this isn't about specific personalities, it's about accountability for institutions," said Rep. Ocasio-Cortez.
