Former Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) is seeking to return to Congress after being ousted in one of the mostly hotly contested primary elections in the country last year.
Why it matters: Her rematch with Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.) adds to a growing list of contested Democratic primaries that some lawmakers fear will draw resources away from their efforts to retake Congress.
- In a campaign launch video posted to social media Friday, Bush said that St. Louis "deserves leadership that doesn't wait for permission, doesn't answer to wealthy donors."
- The Bell campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Zoom out: A progressive activist, Bush was first elected to Congress in 2020 after defeating longtime moderate incumbent Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.).
- She emerged as an outspoken member of the progressive "Squad," becoming a top target for pro-Israel groups as a result of her staunch pro-Palestinian views.
- After coming under federal investigation for her campaign finances in 2024, Bush was defeated by Bell, a former local prosecutor who was backed by more than $9 million from the PAC of pro-Israel group AIPAC.
