Cori Bush, a high‑profile progressive Congresswoman from Missouri (part of “The Squad”), was defeated in the Democratic primary by St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell. Bell won ~51.2% of the vote to Bush’s ~45.6%. The race became a proxy battle over foreign policy, especially the war in Gaza, and the role of outside spending in Democratic primaries.

Pro‑Israel groups—most notably the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its Super PAC United Democracy Project—spent over $8‑9 million supporting Bell’s campaign, targeting Bush in part for her criticism of Israel’s military actions. Her opposition to some mainstream Democratic priorities also drew scrutiny.

Bush had been a strong advocate for racial equity, police reform, housing justice, Medicare for All, and other progressive issues. Yet in this district, those platforms were challenged by messaging that Bush was out of step on local priorities, was neglectful of district issues, or that her positions on Israel alienated certain voter blocs.

Her loss follows that of Jamaal Bowman, another progressive Democrat unseated in 2024 after similar pressures. The outcomes show how well‑funded opposition, particular foreign policy stances, and aggressive outside PAC spending can tip the balance, even in supposedly safe Democratic districts.

Looking ahead, Bush has launched a comeback bid to reclaim her seat. This loss is prompting broader reflection among progressives about strategy: how to communicate values like racial justice and systemic change in ways that resonate across more ideologically mixed constituencies, how to counter well‑funded attacks, and how to balance authenticity with messaging that connects locally.