Rep. Wesley Bell defeats former Rep. Cori Bush in a Missouri Democratic primary rematch - NBC News
Rep. Wesley Bell defeated former Rep. Cori Bush in a Missouri Democratic primary, fueled by significant spending from pro-Israel PACs. The race was characterized by intense debate over U.S. foreign policy and campaign financing.
Why it matters
The outcome highlights the influence of outside spending in primary elections and the ongoing debate within the Democratic party regarding Israel.
ST. LOUIS — Rep. Wesley Bell defeated former Rep. Cori Bush in a Democratic primary rematch, NBC News projects, in the latest chapter of a long-term fight over a deep-blue St. Louis-based district. Bell overwhelmed Bush on the airwaves, fending off her push to make the race a referendum on his support for U.S. aid to Israel. In total, Bell’s campaign and outside allies outspent Bush by a staggering 27-to-1 ratio, according to AdImpact, an ad-tracking service. United Democracy Project — the super PAC linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the pro-Israel advocacy group known as AIPAC — spent $2 million to support Bell, largely through negative ads attacking Bush. One such ad slammed Bush for being critical of former Vice President Kamala Harris. It was a reference to Bush’s criticizing the Biden-Harris administration for supporting Israel amid what she deemed a genocide in Gaza.
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