Missouri Rep. Cori Bush, a prominent member of the House "Squad" of progressive lawmakers, suffered a significant defeat in her Democratic primary to St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell. This marks a major victory for pro-Israel groups that had also played a role in the defeat of New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman six weeks earlier.
Bush, who has been a fierce advocate for progressive causes, faced a tough primary battle in Missouri's 1st Congressional District. This race became the second-most expensive primary of the cycle, with only Bowman's New York race surpassing it in expenditure. Bush's strong stance on calling for a ceasefire in Gaza added fuel to her opponents' efforts.
Despite the support from progressive groups, local leaders, and top congressional Democrats, Bush could not withstand the challenge from Bell, who, like Bush, gained prominence during the protests in Ferguson, Missouri, following the police killing of unarmed Black teenager Michael Brown a decade ago. Bell's victory on Tuesday positions him as the heavy favorite in the general election for the solid blue St. Louis-area seat.
Bell's political journey began in 2015 when he won a seat on the Ferguson City Council. Three years later, he made history as the first Black St. Louis County prosecutor, unseating the longtime incumbent Robert McCulloch. Reflecting on his 2018 victory, Bell told supporters, "What we had, that he did not have, was the power of people."
However, Bell's decision not to bring charges against the officer who shot Michael Brown has been a point of contention within the community, including with Brown's father, who supported Bush in the closing days of the race, saying, "I feel like (Bell) lied to us."
Throughout the primary, Bush attempted to paint Bell as a candidate backed by corporate donors, far removed from the community he now aims to represent. In a fundraising email, Bush stated, "By supporting our grassroots campaign, you're standing up against a grifter politician and the influence of big money in politics and demanding real representation for the people of MO-01."
Bush's defeat is a significant blow to House progressives, who had rallied around her and Bowman earlier this year, only to see both lose their primaries. Both lawmakers faced criticism from their opponents for protest votes against President Joe Biden's bipartisan infrastructure bill in 2021. The bill, which they opposed due to concerns it was not climate-friendly enough, passed despite their objections.
The United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), played a major role in Bush's defeat, spending approximately $9 million on ads attacking her and boosting Bell. The PAC's ads criticized Bush for her infrastructure vote and her advocacy for a ceasefire in Gaza, arguing she focused too much on national issues rather than her district.
An ad by the Mainstream Democrats PAC further attacked Bush over a federal investigation into her alleged misuse of campaign funds for security services. Bush has denied any wrongdoing and insists she complied with House rules.
Bell's campaign received significant financial support from various groups, including the United Democracy Project, the Democratic Majority for Israel, the pro-crypto Fairshake PAC, and billionaire Reid Hoffman's Mainstream Democrats. Bell also had numerous local endorsements.
Bush is the fourth House member to lose a primary this year. Earlier in the year, Rep. Jerry Carl lost an all-incumbent Republican primary in Alabama to Rep. Barry Moore following redistricting. Bowman lost his primary in June, and last week, Virginia Rep. Bob Good, chair of the hard-line House Freedom Caucus, conceded his Republican primary after a recount upheld his June defeat.
