Two years after losing a key primary race, Cori Bush is eager to return to Washington, D.C. The activist-turned-politician faces a transformed political environment, characterized by intense divisions within the Democratic Party over U.S. support for Israel. Bush believes these dynamics will bolster her campaign to reclaim her seat.
“I need to go back. I didn’t finish the work that I was doing,” Bush stated in a recent interview. She attributes her previous electoral loss to significant financial opposition, particularly from AIPAC and its allies, who she claims opposed her stance against war and imperialism, and her criticisms of actions by the Israeli government in Gaza.
The controversy over AIPAC’s political influence has escalated among Democrats this election season, with an increasing number denouncing the group’s impact. This includes some contenders in the 2028 presidential race pledging to refuse AIPAC funding.
The contest in Missouri’s 1st District, a predominantly Black district centered around St. Louis, was a focal point of debate within the Democratic Party regarding Israel, coinciding with pressure on then-candidate Joe Biden over his position on the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
Wesley Bell, then a county prosecutor, defeated Bush by approximately 5 points in the primary, benefiting from over $8.5 million in external funding from the AIPAC-linked United Democracy Project. Although AIPAC has not yet invested in the district this year, they have endorsed Bell for the 2026 cycle.
Patrick Dorton, a spokesperson for AIPAC’s United Democracy Project, criticized Bush’s tenure in Congress, labeling her as ineffective and unable to deliver for her constituents. He expressed doubt that voters would choose her again, citing her lack of accomplishments.
Usamah Andrabi of Justice Democrats, a progressive group supporting Bush, contends that Bell’s connection to AIPAC could become a liability. Andrabi remarked, “Voters are waking up to [AIPAC’s] influence, and that is why you are now seeing AIPAC’s endorsement becoming, I think, a death for so many candidates and incumbents across the country.”
This year, AIPAC’s performance in Democratic primaries has been inconsistent, with significant setbacks in New Jersey and mixed outcomes in Illinois, as progressive candidates more openly challenge the organization.
Dorton pointed to Bush’s missed votes and her opposition to Biden’s infrastructure bill as reasons for her defeat, whereas Bell downplayed the effect of AIPAC’s previous support, describing it as merely a “headline” used by his opponent.
Bell stated, “Folks in my district, money in politics doesn’t impact whether they can get gas in their car and pay for food and the price of eggs and bringing jobs into our district.” He suggested that his opponent is focusing on issues that don’t resonate with voters’ immediate concerns.
Antjuan Seawright, a seasoned Democratic strategist, emphasized that primary voters are more concerned with the services provided to the district than the source of campaign funding. Seawright said, “As long as the people feel like you’re representing them, then why should the race be about the type of money instead of about the services you provide to the district?”
The split within the Democratic Party over support for Israel has intensified since Bush’s 2024 loss, especially amid the military conflict in Iran initiated by President Donald Trump and Israeli leaders. A recent NBC News poll indicated that 67 percent of registered Democrats sympathize more with Palestinians than Israelis in the Middle East.
Similarly, a Quinnipiac poll found that 53 percent of voters, including 89 percent of Democrats, oppose U.S.-Israel military actions against Iran.
Among Republicans, a similar divide is evident. While most MAGA supporters back the president’s actions, some prominent conservatives like Tucker Carlson have criticized the conflict, leading to Joe Kent’s resignation from a senior intelligence position.
Andrabi insists that Bell’s significant receipt of AIPAC funding is a critical vulnerability that should be consistently highlighted.
He argues that Democrats who challenge party leadership are now gaining favor among primary voters.
“Voters are looking for leaders who are willing to call out their own party when they are failing communities, call out their own party when they are too beholden to corporate lobbies like AIPAC,” Andrabi said. “Cori has done that her entire time [in Congress].”
Two years ago, AIPAC-backed groups generally did not focus on Israel during contests, choosing instead to target Bush’s vote against Biden’s infrastructure bill and her missed House votes. This strategy has continued in recent primaries, a tactic Bell has also emphasized.
Bell remarked, “I don’t want to hear about someone who claims to fight but won’t show up to do the job.”
Bush was one of six progressive Democrats who opposed Biden’s infrastructure bill, arguing that it was incomplete without the Build Back Better Act.
Bush asserts that her activism aligns with the Democratic Party’s base. She highlighted her early advocacy for issues like Medicare For All and the Equal Rights Amendment.
“The thing is, people are moving toward the things that I was speaking about,” Bush said. “I called it a genocide before many others did. I spoke up for Medicare For All before others did. I pushed for the Equal Rights Amendment in a way that hadn’t been done in a very long time, and I created a caucus to stand for the Equal Rights Amendment.”
Before 2024, Bush and Bell were reportedly friends, but their relationship soured when Bell ran against her without prior notice. Bush stated they have not communicated since, and she did not inform him of her decision to challenge him in this election cycle.
Bell holds certain advantages in the race, including his position and the endorsement from the Congressional Black Caucus PAC. Additionally, Bell’s campaign funds are significantly larger than Bush’s, with nearly $850,000 on hand compared to Bush’s just over $200,000.
Bell positions himself as a pragmatist, claiming that district voters are not primarily concerned with the issues Bush focuses on.
“She wasn’t present in St. Louis. She didn’t meet with stakeholders; she didn’t meet with constituents,” he said, emphasizing the economic benefits he delivered to local businesses. “The MO in Missouri does not stand for Middle East. It stands for Missouri.”
Bush, meanwhile, plans to emphasize her progressive activism in her campaign. She remains in contact with fellow Squad members Ayanna Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar, though none commented on her candidacy.
Seawright, the Democratic strategist, sees the rivalry between Bush and Bell as indicative of the party’s growing pains.
“The primaries, hopefully, will do what they’re supposed to do and settle whatever differences and disputes we may appear to have, but also change the direction of how we move forward,” he said. “No matter the differences we may appear to have amongst each other, they do not compare to the differences we have with the other side.”
A version of this article first appeared in POLITICO Pro’s Morning Score. Want to receive the newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You’ll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day’s biggest stories.
