Cori Bush defeated after pro-Israel group spends $8.5M to oust her
Wesley Bell defeats "Squad" member Cori Bush after pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC used power of money to take out a second member of the progressive group.
Cori Bush (D-MO) speaks during a press conference alongside lawmakers and university union members on protecting the right of free speech, following a crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., May 23, 2024. / Photo: Reuters
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 Israel's genocidal war in Gaza.
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 was heavily favoured 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 [AIPAC], whose super political action committee, United Democracy Project, spent $8.5 million to oust Bush.
She was targeted after repeated criticism of Israel's genocial war in Gaza.
It was a gameplan that worked 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.
Israel's 'ethnic cleansing campaign' in Gaza
In October, Bush called the Israeli carnage in Gaza an "ethnic cleansing campaign."
Bush wrote on social media that Israel's "collective punishment against Palestinians for Hamas's actions is a war crime."
Her comments prompted far-right and Zionist backlash, even among some supporters in her district. Bell, who had been planning a Senate run against incumbent Republican Josh Hawley, instead opted to challenge Bush.
He told The Associated Press last month that Bush's comments about Israel were "wrong and offensive."
Bush responded 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 they’re going to continue to come after more Democrats."
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