Israel-critic Bush falls in Missouri primary

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell has defeated US Rep. Cori Bush in a Democratic primary in St. Louis, marking the second time this year that one of the party’s incumbents has been ousted in an expensive contest that reflected deep divisions over the war in Gaza.

With over 95 percent of the ballots tallied, Bell has 51.2% of the votes, to Bush’s 45.6%,

Bush, a member of the progressive congressional group known as the “Squad,” was seeking a third term in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, which includes St. Louis city and part of St. Louis County. Bell is heavily favored to carry this overwhelmingly Democratic district in November, when his party is aiming to retake control of the US House.

Bell’s campaign received a big boost from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, whose super political action committee, United Democracy Project, spent $8.5 million to oust Bush. She was targeted after repeated criticism of Israel’s response to the October 7 Hamas attack.

A statement from United Democracy Project says the wins by Bell and George Latimer, who beat Squad member Jerome Bowman in a New York primary in June, along with John McGuire’s 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 says the donors behind AIPAC support former President Donald Trump and other Republicans.

“This is only the beginning,” Bush tells the AP. “Because if they can unseat me, then they’re going to continue to come after more Democrats.”