In a Democratic primary in St. Louis, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush was defeated by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell. This is the second time this year that an incumbent in the party has lost a costly race that exposed strong disagreements regarding the Gaza War.
In the 1st Congressional District of Missouri, which covers part of St. Louis County and the city of St. Louis, Bush, a member of the progressive congressional group known as the “Squad,” was running for reelection a third time. When his party looks to recapture the U.S. House in November, Bell is a strong favorite to win this historically Democratic seat.
Bell declared in a statement, “I am dedicated to serving the St. Louis region in Congress with integrity, transparency, and dedication.” “Together, we will overcome the obstacles in our way and create a community where everyone can prosper.”
In a passionate concession speech, Bush stated that even though she will not be serving in Congress, she still has work to accomplish.
Bush declared, “At the end of the day, I’m still taking care of my people whether I’m a congresswoman or not.”
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, whose super political action committee, United Democracy Project, spent $8.5 million to unseat Bush, greatly aided Bell’s campaign. She became the object of constant criticism of Israel’s reaction to the Hamas attack on October 7.
It was a strategy that proved effective in New York earlier this year. $15 million was spent in June by the United Democracy Project to unseat U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman, another member of the squad. Bowman was defeated by moderately pro-Israel George Latimer.
Bell and Latimer’s victories, coupled with John McGuire’s upset of U.S. Rep. Bob Good in a Virginia Republican primary last week, according to a statement from the United Democracy Project, “is further proof that being pro-Israel is good policy and good politics on both sides of the aisle.” UDP will keep up its backing of leaders who are fighting against critics in either political party and striving to fortify the partnership between the United States and Israel.
In her concession speech, Bush declared that she would not alter.
Bush declared, “We will continue to support a free Palestine.” In response, someone in the audience yelled, “Free, free Palestine.”
Bush referred to the Israeli response as a “ethnic cleansing campaign” in October. Bush declared that Israel’s “collective punishment against Palestinians for Hamas’s actions is a war crime” on social media shortly after the Hamas strike.
Backlash followed her remarks, even from some of her district’s supporters. Bell chose to run against Bush instead than facing Republican incumbent Josh Hawley in the Senate. Bush’s remarks on Israel, he told The Associated Press last month, were “wrong and offensive.”
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