Rep. Wesley Bell won the Democratic primary for Missouri's 1st Congressional District on Tuesday, defeating former congresswoman Cori Bush in a rematch of their 2024 race. Bell's victory in 2024 against the incumbent Bush drew significant attention from pro-Israel groups seeking to remove one of Israel's most prominent critics from the House.
The Associated Press called the race for Bell shortly after polls closed. With 41% of votes counted at press time, Bell led Bush by approximately 67% to 29%.
During her House tenure, Bush was part of the progressive "squad." In her campaign to regain the seat, she again centered her opposition to Israel. "One of us is of the people, by the people and for the people," Bush said in a recent interview. "The other one is paid for by AIPAC."
Pro-Israel organizations responded positively to Bell's win. Democratic Majority for Israel stated that "Bell is a proud, pro-Israel Democrat who continues to champion the U.S.-Israel relationship." AIPAC added, "Our community was proud to support a strong, principled Democratic leader."