Cori Bush’s defeat in the 2024 primary against Wesley Bell was seen as a significant setback for the progressive movement. However, their rematch for Missouri’s 1st District two years later occurs as Bush and her allies appear to be gaining influence over the Democratic Party’s direction.
The ongoing conflict in St. Louis underscores the increasing tension regarding not only the ideological division within the Democratic Party but also the party and the nation’s stance on the United States’ longstanding relationship with Israel.
Bush, one of the first Congress members to label Israel’s actions in Gaza a “genocide,” is now relying on her progressive credentials and criticism of this key U.S. ally to secure a win with the same voters who turned against her previously.
“One of us is of the people, by the people and for the people,” Bush stated in a recent interview. “The other one is paid for by AIPAC. That’s the difference.”
As it was two years ago, a group connected to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee is the largest external financial contributor in the race. The United Democracy Project, a super PAC associated with the organization, has invested at least $2.1 million in primary advertising, according to AdImpact.
According to a July AP-NORC poll, nearly half of Democrats believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians, a claim made by some human rights groups but strongly denied by both Israeli and American governments.
From Colorado to New York, numerous progressives have successfully capitalized on voter dissatisfaction with party leadership by criticizing Israel’s government.
St. Louis is just one of several races on Tuesday challenging the Democratic Party’s establishment. Voters in Michigan will choose between the progressive Abdul El-Sayed and the moderate Rep. Haley Stevens for an open Senate seat.
This race also reflects voter opposition to AIPAC. Some potential 2028 Democratic candidates have already pledged not to accept AIPAC funding, highlighting the growing reluctance to associate with the organization.
AIPAC and some Democrats argue that critics within the Democratic Party have made it increasingly difficult for those generally supportive of Israel.
In response to requests for comment, AIPAC released a series of ads criticizing Bush for her missed votes and her criticism of the Biden administration and former Vice President Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential bid. (In a recent debate, Bush claimed Bell delayed his endorsement of Harris, but both endorsed the former vice president on July 21, 2024, the same day she announced her candidacy.)
Bell, who unseated Bush two years ago with substantial financial support from AIPAC, once again benefits from their significant investment. He also receives establishment support, including endorsements from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the Congressional Black Caucus PAC.
This year, Bell and his allies have overwhelmed Bush in advertising. In addition to UDP’s $2.1 million ad spending, Bell’s campaign has invested over $2 million, according to AdImpact, with an additional $700,000 from another super PAC, New Democrat Majority.
In contrast, Bush has spent under $200,000, according to the ad tracker. She is backed by a progressive coalition that includes the Democratic Socialists of America, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and fellow “Squad” member Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).
Bell dismisses accusations of being propped up by AIPAC funds.
“I think we all can agree that there’s too much money in politics, and I’m a vocal and public supporter of campaign finance reform,” Bell said. “What I’m not a fan of or a supporter of is singling out certain Americans and saying that they should not participate in our democratic process. That is where I would absolutely draw the line.”
Bell further differentiated himself from Bush by stating he can both support and critique allies.
“While I’m not the biggest fan of [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu], I still believe that we have to stand with our allies,” Bell said. “That doesn’t mean we’re not going to disagree at times with our allies.”
The 2024 contest between Bell and Bush was one of the biggest ideological battles for the party, aside from the progressive dissatisfaction with Biden and Harris’s presidential campaigns concerning Israel.
Two years later, the conflict is just one of many across the nation. Progressive candidates continue to win primaries against establishment figures, a trend some call the “Mamdani effect,” named after democratic socialist New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s primary and general election victories over Andrew Cuomo in 2025.
This year’s St. Louis rematch does not hold the same prominence as the 2024 race. Advertising spending has significantly decreased, with nearly $20 million spent on the 2024 contest, four times more than this year’s total, according to AdImpact.
Usamah Andrabi, a spokesperson for Justice Democrats, the progressive group that endorsed Bush earlier, attributes the nationwide ideological struggle to a base “pushed to the edge of desperation by the Democratic Party itself.”
“The Democratic Party’s base woke up in January 2025 realizing that their party’s establishment was unfit, unprepared and frankly unwilling to fight back against Donald Trump and Republican extremists with the urgency the moment demanded,” Andrabi stated.
As St. Louis voters prepare to go to the polls on Tuesday, Bush emphasizes the stakes.
“What is at stake,” Bush said, “is the affordability and the peace of every single person in this country.”
