Rep. Cori Bush, a member of the progressive group known as “the Squad”, lost the Democratic primary in her St. Louis district to Wesley Bell, a more moderate opponent. The race was the second most expensive House primary in U.S. history and was characterized by criticism of Bush’s campaign finances and her views on Israel. Bush was the first member of Congress to call for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and has accused Israeli officials of genocide. The race was heavily influenced by outside funding, with the United Democracy Project, aligned with AIPAC, pouring in over $8 million to support Bell’s campaign. This is not the first race where AIPAC has played a role, as they have supported candidates challenging lawmakers critical of Israel. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, another Squad member, also lost his primary earlier this year to a more moderate candidate with outside funding. Despite these defeats, other Squad members like Rep. Rashida Tlaib have managed to fend off similar challenges. Rep. Ilhan Omar faces a tough primary challenge next week. Overall, the race in St. Louis reflects a broader trend of progressive lawmakers facing challenges from more moderate opponents with significant outside funding, particularly related to views on Israel.
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St. Louis primary loss for Cori Bush comes in a race marked by criticism of Israel
