Wesley Bell beats Cori Bush in Missouri Democratic House primary rematch

Representative Wesley Bell has unseated two-term incumbent Cori Bush in a closely watched Democratic primary for Missouri's 1st Congressional District. The race, which Bell is projected to win in November due to the district's strong Democratic leanings, underscored deep intraparty divisions over the future of the Democratic Party and the U.S. alliance with Israel.

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I am no fan of Bibi Netanyahu, but we're still going to stand with our allies.

Bell, a moderate Democrat who supports the U.S. relationship with Israel, unseated Bush, a prominent Black Lives Matter activist, in 2025. Bush had blamed her 2024 defeat on pro-Israel lobbying groups that spent millions against her. The two candidates clashed during a July 24 debate over their support for Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. military aid to Israel, and campaign spending.

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Now funding for other things that they may need, I have no problem with that.

On the issue of Israel, Bell voted against eliminating $3.3 billion in aid, a stance that put him at odds with a majority of House Democrats. "I am no fan of Bibi Netanyahu, but we're still going to stand with our allies," Bell stated. Bush, conversely, advocated for cutting off military aid while human rights violations occur, though she expressed willingness to fund other needs. While Bush believes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, Bell did not directly address the question.

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You called her a fascist at a time when this election came down to a few thousand votes in five or six states, and everyone understood the assignment except you.

The conflict extended to comments made by Bush two years prior, where Bell accused her of calling Vice President Harris a fascist. Bush denied calling them fascists but explained her comments related to a rise in fascism starting with the Trump administration and the funding of military actions. Bell countered that Bush was twisting her words, while Bush accused Bell of "revisionist history."

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Did I call them fascists? No. There was a rise in fascism, starting with the Trump administration. And then how we were able to send so much money to go and bomb people in another country, and it was so much of that was funded by a lot of the people that fund Congressman Wesley Bell through these PACs.