Missouri Rep. Wesley Bell crushed a comeback attempt by his predecessor Cori Bush, a democratic socialist and sharp critic of the war in Gaza, in a high-profile Democratic primary Tuesday that drew millions of dollars in ads from pro-Israel groups.
With more than 95 percent of votes in, Bell was leading Bush 59 percent to 37 percent in the Democratic contest for the St. Louis-anchored 1st District, The Associated Press reported.
The result marks a victory for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel group whose campaign arm spent more than $2.5 million targeting Bush. Bell’s win is also a setback for the progressive movement, which has notched Democratic primary victories in Colorado, New York and Pennsylvania this cycle, including knocking out three incumbents.
Bell, a former prosecutor who portrayed himself as a pragmatist focused on local issues, will be heavily favored to win a second term in November in a district that backed Kamala Harris by 58 points in 2024.
“Two years ago, St. Louis voted for better and more accountable representation,’’ Bell said in a statement Tuesday. “We have kept that promise, whether it’s bringing federal resources home to our neighborhoods, standing with working folks when they needed someone in their corner, or helping families cut through red tape.”
