USA04 August, 20263 min read
Wesley Bell Defeats Cori Bush in Missouri First Congressional District Democratic Primary Rematch
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Wesley Bell defeated Cori Bush in Missouri's Democratic primary rematch. Bush campaigned as an anti-Israel progressive challenging Bell.
Bell defeats Cori Bush
U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell defeated former Rep. Cori Bush in Missouri’s Democratic primary rematch for the state’s First Congressional District, with Bell winning Tuesday’s contest in the St. Louis-based seat that Bush had lost two years earlier.
The Associated Press reported that Bell was backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which lobbies for U.S. support of Israel, while Bush “has denounced Israel’s military action in Gaza.”
In his victory speech, Bell told supporters, “There’s folks who chose to have their voices heard when there are forces trying to take those voices away from them.”
Bell also looked ahead to the general election in November, saying “the fight is just starting,” and that he would “work with anyone who will work with us.”
Bush offered no reconciliation in defeat and instead swiped at Bell, saying, “It pisses me off that for the next two years, this community will be represented by someone that didn’t deem you valuable enough to show up to one candidate forum where there were audience comments.”
AIPAC money and party tests
The Missouri rematch was framed as a test of where Democrats are headed on Israel, with The Jerusalem Post describing Bell’s win as “an important victory for the Democratic Party’s pro-Israel wing” after AIPAC and its allies invested millions in the race.
The Washington Post described the contest as a pro-Israel lobby effort to keep Bell on course for a second term in the heavily Democratic district, noting that AIPAC “spent millions to support him and oppose Bush” in 2024 and did so again this year.
In Michigan, The Alabama News Wire said the Democratic Senate race between Rep. Haley Stevens and former public health official Abdul El-Sayed is “one ofthe clearest tests yetof the party’s future,” with Stevens having establishment support and being backed by roughly $30 million from AIPAC.
El-Sayed, speaking as votes were still being counted, called for Democratic unity and said the primary slog “pales in comparison to the lies that Mike Rogers and Donald Trump are going to tell.”
The Independent en Español said Michigan’s contest carries extra weight because Michigan is a swing state, and it described the race as a choice between a progressive standard-bearer and a candidate backed by the establishment.
What comes next in November
Looking beyond Missouri, The Alabama News Wire said Democrats will likely need to defend the open Senate seat against Republican Mike Rogers in order to take control of the Senate next year, while also noting that the primary results in Michigan may not be finalized until early morning.
The Associated Press reported that Bell’s primary victory is likely to propel him to reelection in November in the heavily Democratic St. Louis district, and it quoted Sandra Milbrandt, 58, saying, “Wesley Bell has been doing good. So why would we not keep him there?”
In Michigan, the same report set the stage for the general election by describing the Democratic Senate race as a test of the party’s future, with El-Sayed calling for unity and Stevens telling a crowd in Detroit, “We got to wake up and be ready to go, because if we are going to win this thing, which we are, we are going to have to get ready and show Mike Rogers what a little stick it to ’em looks like.”
The Washington Post added that Bell maintained his support for Israel and “did not vote for the amendment ending aid,” while also quoting Bell saying, “I do think that there’s too much money in politics, but also I think all Americans have a right to participate in our democracy.”
Across the party’s internal fight, Bush’s defeat and Bell’s win left Democrats facing a continuing argument over Israel and AIPAC influence as the next set of primaries and the November general election approach.