In a significant political upset, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell has triumphed over U.S. Rep. Cori Bush in a Democratic primary in St. Louis.
This marks the second instance this year where an incumbent from the Democratic party has been unseated in a costly contest that mirrors the deep-seated divisions over the conflict in Gaza.
According to Boston.com, Bush, a member of the progressive congressional group known as the Squad, was seeking a third term in Missouris 1st Congressional District, which encompasses St. Louis city and a portion of St. Louis County. Bell, who is expected to win the overwhelmingly Democratic district in November, could help his party regain control of the U.S. House.
Bell, in a statement, expressed his commitment to serving the St. Louis region in Congress with integrity, transparency, and dedication. He said, Together, we will tackle the challenges ahead and build a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Bush, in a passionate concession speech, emphasized that her work is not over, even if she will no longer serve in Congress. At the end of the day, whether Im a congresswoman or not, Im still taking care of my people, Bush stated.
Bell's campaign was significantly bolstered by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, whose super political action committee, United Democracy Project, spent $8.5 million to unseat Bush. She was targeted following repeated criticism of Israels response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
The strategy proved successful earlier this year in New York. In June, United Democracy Project spent $15 million to defeat another Squad member U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman. Bowman lost to George Latimer, a pro-Israel centrist.
United Democracy Project, in a statement, said the victories by Bell and Latimer, along with John McGuires defeat of U.S. Rep. Bob Good in a Republican primary last week in Virginia, is further proof that being pro-Israel is good policy and good politics on both sides of the aisle. UDP will continue our efforts to support leaders working to strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance while countering detractors in either political party.
Bush, in her concession speech, maintained her stance. We will keep supporting a free Palestine, Bush said. A crowd member echoed her sentiment: Free, free Palestine.
In October, Bush labeled the Israeli retaliation an ethnic cleansing campaign. Following the Hamas attack, Bush stated on social media that Israels collective punishment against Palestinians for Hamass actions is a war crime.
Her comments sparked backlash, even among some supporters in her district. Bell, who had been planning a Senate run against incumbent Republican Josh Hawley, instead chose to challenge Bush. He told The Associated Press last month that Bushs comments about Israel were wrong and offensive.
Bush retorted by saying that the donors behind AIPAC support former President Donald Trump and other Republicans. This is only the beginning, Bush told the AP. Because if they can unseat me, then theyre going to continue to come after more Democrats.
Both Bush and Bell honed their leadership skills in Ferguson, Missouri, during the unrest that followed Michael Browns death at the hands of a police officer in 2014. This week marks the 10th anniversary of Browns death.
Brown, a Black 18-year-old, was walking with a friend on Aug. 9, 2014, when a white officer, Darren Wilson, confronted them. Wilson claimed he fired in self-defense because Brown was so enraged. Some witnesses said Brown, who was unarmed, had his hands up in surrender. Wilson was cleared of wrongdoing and resigned, and Browns death led to months of protests.
Bush, 48, became a protest leader. She was outspoken and critical of how police in Ferguson and other parts of the St. Louis region treated Black people. Her activism prompted an unsuccessful run against longtime incumbent 1st District Democrat William Lacy Clay in 2018, before she defeated him in 2020. She easily won reelection in 2022.
Bell, 49, began hosting conversations about community policing after Browns death. The lawyer, who previously served as a municipal prosecutor and judge, ran successfully for a seat on the Ferguson City Council before defeating seven-term incumbent St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch in the August 2018 Democratic primary.
As prosecutor, Bell reopened an examination into Browns death. He announced in July 2020 that while the investigation didnt exonerate Wilson, there wasnt enough evidence to charge him. My heart breaks for Browns parents, Bell said at the time. I know this is not the result they were looking for and that their pain will continue forever.
Browns father, Michael Brown Sr., was featured in an ad for Bush. He used my family for power, Brown says of Bell in the ad. And now hes trying to sell out St. Louis.
Bushs campaign focused on what shes accomplished for St. Louis. She said her efforts have brought $2 billion to the 1st District and that it was her protest on the steps of the Capitol in 2021 that helped extend the federal eviction moratorium as part of the COVID-19 pandemic, aiding thousands of St. Louisans.
Bell touted his own progressive credentials. He noted that as a prosecutor he has said he will not prosecute any abortion cases in a state that bans the procedure in most instances. He created diversion programs to point people with mental health and substance abuse problems toward treatment instead of jail. And his office has expanded efforts to examine potential cases of wrongful convictions.
In Missouris 3rd District, which stretches from the western outskirts of the St. Louis region through central Missouri, the candidate with Trumps endorsement won. Bob Onder, a physician and also a former state senator, defeated former state Sen. Kurt Schaefer.
Trump wrote on Truth Social last month that Onder was an incredible America First Patriot. The former president wrote that Schaefer is WEAK ON MAGA, adding, Thats all you have to know!
The 3rd District is heavily Republican, and Onder will be favored against Democrat Bethany Mann, a political newcomer, in November.
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