Bell fends off Bush in House Democratic primary rematch in Missouri

Campaign Bell fends off Bush in House Democratic primary rematch in Missouri Comments: by Julia Mueller - 08/04/26 9:19 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Julia Mueller - 08/04/26 9:19 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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Rep. Wesley Bell (D) has fended off former Rep. Cori Bush’s (D) comeback bid as he seeks reelection to the House in Missouri, Decision Desk HQ projects.

Bush was running to retake her seat in the solidly blue 1st Congression District two years after Bell ousted her by roughly 5 percentage points in the 2024 Democratic primary.

Her loss that year marked a blow to the so-called progressive “Squad” on Capitol Hill as members like Bush weathered tensions over the Israel-Hamas war. Bush has been a staunch critic of Israel, and a group aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) threw support behind Bell in 2024.

AIPAC has remained a major player in the midterm elections, and Bush this cycle targeted Bell’s support for Israel amid voters’ souring perceptions of U.S. support for the country.

Bush also boasted support from progressive juggernaut Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

But Bell, who bested Bell in second-quarter fundraising, came out on top a second cycle in a row. He’s now all but assured to win another term representing blue St. Louis in the House.

The race was one of five contests this cycle where a former member of the House is running for the chamber against an incumbent member. Former Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas), for example, left the House to try unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2024, and is running this cycle to return to the House. He ousted Rep. Julie Johnson (Texas) in a Democratic primary this spring.

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