All eyes on Cori Bush after fellow "Squad" member's ouster

• Bowman faced blowback from pulling a Capitol Hill fire alarm, while Bush is under multiple federal investigations into alleged misuse of campaign funds to retain her husband as part of her security team.
• Bush has denied wrongdoing but has been forced to spend a significant portion of her campaign cash on legal fees ahead of her Aug. 6 primary.

Driving the news: Hours after Bowman's 17-point loss, pro-Israel group Democratic Majority for Israel released internal polling, obtained by Politico, showing Bush in a statistical dead heat with rival Wesley Bell, a local prosecutor.

• That's a stark reversal from Bush's 17-point lead in another internal DMFI poll from January and could point to a highly competitive race.
• Independent polling on the race is scant, but one survey in February after news of Bush's investigations broke showed Bell leading by 22 points.
• In addition to AIPAC, Bell has been endorsed by DMFI and the Jewish Democrats, a progressive pro-Israel group that also backed Latimer.

Between the lines: Unlike Bowman, Bush hasn't been endorsed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) or his top deputies, Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.).

• Those endorsements are forthcoming, two House Democratic leadership sources told Axios, with one saying they will happen "eventually."
• Aguilar said at a press conference on Wednesday: "I don't think that's a surprise to anybody that we're endorsing our Democratic members."
• Jeffries declined to comment on his plans for endorsing Bush but signaled he may weigh in on the topic at his weekly press conference Thursday.

Zoom out: Jeffries has made supporting incumbents a cornerstone of his leadership strategy. His leadership trio endorsed Squad Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Summer Lee (D-Pa.), who each have faced less serious primary threats.

• They have also supported other embattled colleagues like Reps. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.).
• Still, while Jeffries backed Bowman, he did not campaign actively for him.

What we're hearing: Multiple House Democrats, including two progressives, told Axios they're not surprised leadership has waited this long to endorse Bush, describing her as an isolated member of the Democratic caucus.

• "She doesn't have the kind of relationships even that Bowman had ... so I can imagine that it's been difficult for folks in leadership to figure out how to be supportive of her," one progressive said on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about a colleague.

• Said another House Democrat: "Most people understand the expression there's no 'I' in team. I don't think she got the memo."

Yes, but: Some of Bush's progressive colleagues framed such critiques as an asset. "For Cori Bush, every vote is a conscience vote. I don't think she goes along to get along," said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).

• "She's always morally and politically authentic to her own views," Raskin added.
• Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) said Bush is "very empathetic," adding, "She is who she is. She stands up for people, and there's no 'yes or no' when it comes to helping people. That's what she's going to do."

What they're saying: "Congresswoman Bush is an unwavering and effective leader on behalf of the people she serves in Missouri's First District," Bush's campaign told Axios in a statement.

• "Throughout her tenure in Congress, she has partnered with ... colleagues on a range of issues including housing justice, abortion and reproductive rights, public safety, climate action, and fighting back against the extreme MAGA Republican majority," the statement continued.
• "She has more than earned the caucus' support in her bid for re-election."