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Wesley Bell Again Defeats Cori Bush — With Plenty of Help From AIPAC

The moderate Democrat easily won the rematch in Missouri’s primary against an outspoken critic of Israel.

Fueled by pro-Israel funding, Rep. Wesley Bell, D-Mo., fended off a primary challenge from former Rep. Cori Bush, whom he ousted from Congress two years ago.

The race in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District was one of several contests on Tuesday pitting the left and democratic socialists against establishment Democrats in a midterm cycle defined by competing visions for the future of the party. Just over an hour after polls closed, The Associated Press called in Bell’s favor.

Before polls closed on Tuesday evening, Bell brushed off Bush’s criticism of his support from the pro-Israel lobby.

“What we’ve seen over and over is talking about an issue that is not impacting folks right here in St. Louis, and while we take those issues seriously, you know, the M in Missouri doesn’t stand for Middle East. It stands for Missouri,” Bell said.

Wesley Bell defeats an outspoken anti-Israel candidate (again). https://t.co/oM1IzLErKR — AIPAC ???? (@AIPAC) August 5, 2026

Wesley Bell defeats an outspoken anti-Israel candidate (again). https://t.co/oM1IzLErKR

— AIPAC ???? (@AIPAC) August 5, 2026

The question going into Tuesday’s primaries, including the widely watched Michigan Democratic Senate race, was whether progressives could win in the Midwest. Despite a decent track record in the region, it was unclear if the energy that boosted progressives in other primaries from New York to Colorado would be enough to help Bush, a former member of Congress and another democratic socialist, come back from a bruising loss two years ago.

Outside groups opposing Bush poured money into the rematch, spending $4.6 million against her or backing Bell. In comparison, Bush drew just $200,000 in outside spending in her favor. Most of that money came from the super PAC for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the pro-Israel group that took credit for ousting Bush last cycle. The group’s super PAC, United Democracy Project, spent $3 million against Bush this year, far less than the $8 million it poured out against her in 2024 as part of a historic investment targeting elected lawmakers critical of Israel. 

Who’s Spending in Your Congressional Election? We Tracked the Front Groups Fueling the 2026 Midterms.

In response to that kind of spending,........

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