Cori Bush Announces Comeback Run for Missouri House Seat/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Former Rep. Cori Bush has announced a comeback campaign for her old St. Louis congressional seat, a year after losing to Rep. Wesley Bell in a primary heavily influenced by AIPAC spending. Bush pledges to champion progressive causes and reject corporate donors. Bell criticized her record and pointed to ongoing investigations into her past campaign finances.
Cori Bush Comeback: Quick Looks
- Bush announced run Friday in a video posted on X.
- Lost her seat in 2024 primary to Rep. Wesley Bell, backed by millions from AIPAC.
- Was one of two Squad progressives unseated in primaries, alongside Jamaal Bowman.
- Known for leading Capitol sit-in on eviction moratorium extension.
- Vocal critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, labeling Israel an “apartheid state.”
- Claims her 2024 loss was fueled by “Republican money” and outside influence.
- Bell counters with attacks on her voting record, including opposition to 2021 infrastructure law.
- DOJ investigation into Bush’s campaign spending remains ongoing.
Deep Look
Cori Bush Launches Campaign to Reclaim Missouri’s First Congressional District
ST. LOUIS — One year after losing her congressional seat in a high-profile Democratic primary, former Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) announced Friday that she will seek a political comeback. In a video posted on X, Bush said she is running again to fight for “regular people” and provide leadership that “doesn’t answer to wealthy donors.”
Bush, a progressive activist and member of the left-wing Squad, served two terms in Congress before being unseated in 2024 by Rep. Wesley Bell, the St. Louis County prosecutor. Bell’s victory came after an unprecedented wave of spending by pro-Israel groups, including more than $8 million from AIPAC.
“I ran for Congress to change things for regular people,” Bush said in her announcement video. “I’m running again because St. Louis deserves leadership that doesn’t wait for permission, doesn’t hide when things get tough.”
A History of Activism and Progressive Policy
Bush, a former nurse and Black Lives Matter activist, first rose to prominence in 2020 when she unseated longtime Rep. William Lacy Clay in a primary. During her tenure, she made headlines for leading a sit-in on the Capitol steps, pressuring the Biden administration to extend a pandemic-era eviction moratorium.
She also became one of Congress’s most outspoken critics of U.S. policy toward Israel, frequently condemning the country’s military actions in Gaza and calling Israel an “apartheid state.” In 2023 and 2024, she repeatedly pushed for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, a stance that made her a target for pro-Israel groups.
Bush told POLITICO after her loss that “Republican money” funneled through AIPAC was responsible for her defeat. On the night of her primary loss, she warned the lobbying group: “I’m coming to tear your kingdom down.”
Bell Pushes Back
Bell, now seeking reelection, immediately fired back at Bush’s campaign relaunch. In a post on X, he highlighted Bush’s “no” vote on the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law and referenced the Justice Department investigation into her campaign finances.
“St. Louis deserves real results and honest representation, not more headlines or scandals,” Bell wrote. “When it came time to deliver, Cori Bush’s focus wasn’t on our community, but on her own national agenda.”
Progressive Wing Under Pressure
Bush’s defeat last summer was part of a broader challenge to the progressive Squad. Former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) also lost his primary, defeated by George Latimer with significant pro-Israel backing. Both races underscored the growing tensions between the Democratic establishment, progressive lawmakers, and well-funded outside groups.
Bush is betting that voters in Missouri’s 1st District, which includes much of St. Louis, are ready to send her back to Washington despite her past controversies.
Forward-Looking Message
In her campaign announcement, Bush struck a message of urgency and resilience.
“The stakes for our community here have never been higher,” she said. “I’m running because our district deserves someone ten toes down, for our families, for our wallets, for our safety, for our Democracy and for our bright future.”
Whether Bush can overcome Bell’s incumbency — and fend off the same outside money that fueled her defeat in 2024 — remains one of the most closely watched questions for progressives heading into the 2026 midterms.
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