Rep. Cori Bush Loses Primary to More Moderate Opponent in St. Louis

No one cries for the Squad. These folks hate this country, so the sooner they are all out of office, the better.

In a dramatic turn of events, Rep. Cori Bush, a prominent member of the progressive “Squad,” faced a crushing defeat in her St. Louis district. She was unseated by the more moderate St. Louis prosecuting attorney Wesley Bell in a fiercely contested Democratic primary. This loss marks Bush as the second Squad member this year to fall in a Democratic primary, following the earlier defeat of Rep. Jamaal Bowman in his Bronx-area district.

🚨BREAKING NEWS: Rep. Cori Bush Loses Primary Election

• Squad Member Defeated: Rep. Cori Bush, a member of AOC’s Squad caucus, just lost her primary election, similar to Rep. Jamaal Bowman.

• New Representative: Rep. Bush will be replaced by AIPAC-backed Wesley Bell.

•… pic.twitter.com/c30y0YlMF0

— Shred News (@Shreddick0) August 7, 2024

Bell, buoyed by substantial support from a major pro-Israel group, portrayed Bush as disconnected from her constituents, a narrative that resonated with voters amid swirling controversies around Bush’s campaign finances and her vocal criticism of the Israeli government. The campaign saw unprecedented spending, making it the second-most expensive House primary in U.S. history, with only Bowman’s earlier contest surpassing it.

Bush, a registered nurse and fiery activist, made headlines as the first Congress member to demand a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas just days after the October 7 attacks. Her unwavering stance against Israel’s military actions and accusations of genocide became lightning rods in the primary battle, galvanizing opposition support and funding.

Anti-Israel U.S. Congresswoman Cori Bush defeated in congressional primary in Missouri.

‘Squad’ member Bush will no longer be the Democrat parties candidate for Congress in the November election, after being defeated by pro-Israel Wesley Bell, who is a St Louis Prosecutor.… pic.twitter.com/27xQe7nOm4

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) August 7, 2024

The United Democracy Project, a super PAC aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), injected over $8 million into Bell’s campaign. Meanwhile, Justice Democrats, a PAC opposing U.S. aid to Israel, funneled more than $2 million to defend Bush’s seat.

AIPAC’s involvement in this and other races signals a strategic push to counteract progressive critics of Israel. Earlier this year, their influence was felt in Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s primary defeat, where the super PAC spent upwards of $7 million to support his opponent.

#BREAKING: Squad member Cori Bush will not be returning to Congress next year. She was defeated by Democrat Wesley Bell in the Missouri primary. pic.twitter.com/lColNQKVAt

— American Intel Resources (@USAIntel) August 7, 2024

While Bush and Bowman have faced significant setbacks, other Squad members like Reps. Summer Lee and Rashida Tlaib have successfully repelled similar challenges. The spotlight now turns to Rep. Ilhan Omar, who is bracing for a formidable primary challenge from former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels next week.  If Omar can be ousted, this country will rejoice.

Key Points

• Cori Bush defeated by Wesley Bell in a high-stakes St. Louis primary.
• Bell’s campaign, bolstered by pro-Israel funding, highlighted Bush’s controversial stances.
• The primary was the second-most expensive in U.S. history.
• AIPAC continues strategic funding against progressive Israel critics.
• Squad members Summer Lee and Rashida Tlaib fend off challenges, while Ilhan Omar faces a tough primary ahead.

Susan Guglielmo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News