Wesley Bell defeated former Representative Cori Bush in the Missouri Democratic primary for the state’s 1st Congressional District on August 4, 2026, winning 59.2 percent of the vote to Bush’s 36.9 percent. The victory marks Bell’s second consecutive defeat of Bush, who lost her House seat to him in 2024 by a narrower 51.1 percent to 45.6 percent margin.
The rematch centered on Israel policy and the role of pro-Israel advocacy groups in campaign spending. Bush, a member of the progressive “Squad,” made Bell’s support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) a central campaign issue, while pro-Israel groups poured millions into the race to support Bell.
AIPAC’s super PAC, United Democracy Project, spent approximately $3 million against Bush in 2026, a decrease from the roughly $8 million to $9 million the group and allied pro-Israel PACs spent against her in 2024. According to reporting from NBC News, 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.” The Intercept reported that the 2026 race represented a “far less” expensive intervention by AIPAC than two years prior.
Bush first won the seat in 2020 after defeating long-serving incumbent William Lacy Clay. As a “Squad” member, she had been outspoken on issues including Gaza, voting against U.S. military aid to Israel. Her loss to Bell in 2024 made her the second “Squad” member to lose a primary that cycle, following New York Representative Jamaal Bowman’s defeat in the most expensive House primary in U.S. history.
Bell will advance to the November general election, where he faces Republican Paul Berry III and Libertarian Tom Schmitz in the heavily Democratic district. According to the New York Times, the Cook Political Report rated the Missouri 1st Congressional District as safe for Democrats before the primary, positioning Bell as the heavy favorite for a second full term.
The 2026 race reflected broader tensions within the Democratic Party over Israel policy and the influence of outside spending groups. Bush’s comeback attempt had sought to capitalize on broader primary contests that tested Democratic divisions, but Bell’s stronger financial position and AIPAC backing proved decisive once again. The result suggests that even in a heavily Democratic district, pro-Israel advocacy groups’ spending power can shift primary outcomes against progressive challengers.
Sources
- St. Louis Public Radio — Bell’s vote share (59.2%) and Bush’s vote share (36.9%) in the 2026 primary, and confirmation of the 2024 results.
- Missouri Independent — AIPAC and allied PACs’ $8.5 million spending against Bush in 2024, and 2026 primary results and vote shares.
- NBC News — Bell’s 2026 victory, AIPAC spending in 2026, and quote on Bell overwhelming Bush on the airwaves.
- The Intercept — United Democracy Project’s $3 million spending against Bush in 2026 and comparison to 2024 spending.
- The Guardian — AIPAC’s approximately $3 million spending in 2026 and confirmation of the rematch result.
- AP News — Confirmation of Bell’s primary victory and rematch against Bush.
- New York Times — Cook Political Report rating of the district as safe for Democrats and 2026 primary results.
- 19th News — Context on Bush’s loss and her status as a Black woman member of Congress.
- Politico — Context on the 2024 primary outcome and pro-Israel lobby spending.
