Republican Cori forestD-Mo., suffered a crushing defeat in her St. Louis district on Tuesday night, becoming the second member of the progressive group of House members known as “the Squad” to lose a Democratic primary this year to a more moderate opponent.
Bush, a second-term lawmaker, was defeated in the Democratic race for Missouri's 1st District by the St. Louis district attorney Wesley Belwho was backed by a large pro-Israel group. The race was the second-most expensive House primary in U.S. history, eclipsed only by the fight earlier this year for Rep. Jamaal BowmanThe Bronx seat, according to the impact of the group's ad.
Bell tried to paint Bush as out of touch with her voters during the months-long race, highlighting the many investigations into her campaign finances. But Bush's criticism of the Israeli government, more than any other factor, became the defining factor of the campaign.
Bush, a registered nurse and activist, was the first member of Congress to call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, nine days after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. She has since become a steadfast critic of Israel's handling of the war and has accused Israeli officials of genocide.
The United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, poured more than $8 million into the race to boost Bell’s campaign to replace Bush in the halls of Congress. Justice Democrats, a PAC that has cut U.S. aid to Israel, meanwhile, said it has spent more than $2 million supporting Bush.
The St. Louis primary isn’t the first race AIPAC has weighed in on in 2024. The group has thrown its weight behind a slate of candidates challenging some of the most outspoken Democratic lawmakers critical of Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza.
In July, Bowman, Bush's fellow Squad member, lost his district's Democratic primary to a more moderate candidate whose campaign was backed by outside funding. The United Democracy Project spent more than $7 million on that race.
Bowman told Bush during a fundraising call Monday night that he knew exactly what she was going through and said she was a “strong truth-teller.””
Several other members of the Squad — the group of progressive lawmakers who rose to prominence during former President Donald Trump’s term — have fended off similar challenges this year. Among them: Rep. Summer Lee, D-Penn., and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.
Others in the group still have a tough race ahead of them this year. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., faces a tough challenge in next week’s primary from former Minneapolis City Councilman Don Samuels.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cori Bush loses St. Louis primary in race marked by criticism of Israel
