Rep. Cori Bush loses her congressional primary to Wesley Bell, marking a significant shift in the Missouri 1st Congressional District.
Rep. Cori Bush, a prominent member of the progressive “Squad,” has lost her congressional primary in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District to Wesley Bell, the county prosecutor. The Associated Press called the race for Bell at 10:59 p.m. on Tuesday, with nearly all votes counted. Bell secured 51.2% of the votes, while Bush received 45.6%, marking the end of her term as the representative of the district that includes St. Louis and parts of St. Louis County.
Bell’s victory makes him the strong favorite to win the general election in November, given the deep-blue nature of the district. This primary contest drew national attention due to the significant involvement of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) super PAC, United Democracy Project, which spent heavily to unseat Bush. AIPAC’s interest in the race was largely motivated by Bush’s outspoken criticism of Israel’s actions during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
After the results were announced, Bush addressed her supporters, reflecting on her time in office and the challenges she faced.
“I have always stood for what I believe is right, even when it was difficult,” she said. “But the people of Missouri have spoken, and I respect their decision.”
The Missouri race highlighted the growing divisions within the Democratic Party, particularly over foreign policy issues like the war in Gaza. Bush, known for her progressive stances, had criticized Israel’s military response to Hamas’ October 7 attack, labeling it an “ethnic cleansing campaign” and “collective punishment against Palestinians.” This position made her a target for AIPAC, which poured more than $8.4 million into the race to support Bell and oppose Bush.
Wesley Bell, who has also positioned himself as a progressive on many issues, distanced himself from Bush’s comments on Israel. He argued that her stance sent “the wrong message” and emphasized the importance of standing firmly against rogue nations, dictators, and terrorist groups like Hamas and Iran.
Bush’s defeat makes her the second member of the “Squad” to lose a primary this year. In June, Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York lost his primary to centrist challenger George Latimer. Like Bush, Bowman had also faced heavy spending from AIPAC’s super PAC after criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The outcome of the Missouri primary is seen as a significant moment for the Democratic Party, as it grapples with internal conflicts over its stance on international issues and the influence of outside groups like AIPAC. For Cori Bush, her loss marks the end of a significant chapter in her political career, while Wesley Bell prepares to take on the mantle in the upcoming general election.
As Wesley Bell moves forward, all eyes will be on how he navigates his new role and whether he will maintain the progressive momentum that Bush brought to the district. The general election in November will likely solidify his position, but the impact of this primary will resonate within the Democratic Party for some time.
