Bell Leads with 51% of the Vote, Bush Trails with 45.8%
Following a highly competitive and historically expensive primary race, the Associated Press has projected that Wesley Bell, the St. Louis County prosecuting attorney, has emerged victorious in the Democratic primary race for Missouri’s first Congressional district. Incumbent progressive Representative Cori Bush, a member of the renowned House “Squad,” has conceded defeat, marking the second such loss for a Squad member during this primary cycle.
With 94% of the estimated vote counted as of 11:00 p.m. ET, Bell has secured 51% of the vote, while Bush trails with 45.8%. Bush’s loss represents the third instance of an incumbent House member being defeated by a non-incumbent challenger in this primary season.
Outside Spending Fuels Expensive Race
The race between Bell and Bush witnessed a surge in outside spending, mirroring the fiercely contested primary involving fellow “Squad” member Representative Jamaal Bowman in New York earlier this summer. The primary driver behind this spending was the United Democracy Project PAC, the fundraising arm affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which was motivated by Bush’s vocal criticism of Israel’s actions in the Gaza conflict with Hamas.
In this particular race, the United Democracy Project spent over $7 million to challenge Bush and support Bell.
Bush’s defeat adds to a growing trend of high-profile Democratic incumbents being unseated by challengers. Some analysts attribute this trend to factors such as voter dissatisfaction with the incumbents’ performance, the impact of redistricting, and the rise of anti-establishment sentiment within the Democratic Party.
The outcome of this primary race will have significant implications for the upcoming midterm elections. Bell’s victory strengthens the position of more moderate Democrats within the party, while Bush’s defeat could embolden progressive challengers seeking to unseat incumbents.
As the primary season continues, the balance of power within the Democratic Party remains fluid, and the outcomes of upcoming races will shape the party’s direction heading into the midterm elections.
