Well, that sequel nobody asked for just flopped harder than the original. Former Squad member Cori Bush tried to stage a political comeback in Missouri's 1st Congressional District, and voters told her "no thanks" for the second time in a row. As The American Tribune reported, Rep. Wesley Bell defeated Bush on Tuesday in what can only be described as a bitter rematch of their 2024 showdown. Bush now has zero clear paths back to Washington after spending just two terms in the House.
The primary took place in a heavily blue district that covers St. Louis and surrounding areas, meaning whoever wins the Democratic nomination basically gets fitted for their congressional office furniture. Bell, who has held the seat since January 2025, is now strongly favored to cruise through November like it's a Sunday drive.
Bush originally won her seat back in 2021 by knocking off longtime Rep. Lacy Clay, then immediately joined the far left Squad. Before Congress, she gained national attention through Black Lives Matter protests in Ferguson, Missouri. Her time on Capitol Hill featured a greatest hits album of fighting with fellow Democrats, calling for police defunding, and loudly opposing Israel.
The rematch highlighted a growing rift between establishment Democrats and the party's democratic socialist faction. Bell has taken a more conventional stance on the U.S. alliance with Israel, while Bush has accused the country of committing genocide in Gaza.
Things got especially spicy during a July 24th debate. Bell defended his vote against cutting $3.3 billion in Israeli aid, saying he's "no fan of Bibi Netanyahu" but supports standing with allies. Bush countered that military funding should be frozen while human rights violations occur.
Then Bell went after Bush for her 2024 campaign comments about Biden and Harris, accusing her of comparing the administration to fascism during a razor thin election. Bush denied calling either one a fascist directly, instead pointing fingers at U.S. military spending related to Gaza.
Because no good political debate ends without getting deeply personal, Bell brought up federal charges against Bush's husband involving pandemic relief funds. He also criticized her for paying herself a campaign salary and funneling campaign cash to her husband for security work. Those payments might technically be legal under federal rules when properly disclosed, but they dogged her throughout her tenure.
Bush fired back by accusing Bell of making defamatory statements about her family. She then pulled out the classic "I know stuff about you but I'm too classy to share it" card, claiming she possessed damaging personal information about Bell.
Spoiler alert: it didn't matter.
Bell's victory effectively closes the book on Bush's political resurrection tour. Losing two consecutive primaries to the identical opponent after serving only four years is the kind of track record that makes a comeback pretty much impossible. The district's deep blue composition means Bell will almost certainly be representing St. Louis in Congress come next year, while Bush figures out what comes after a two and out career in Washington.
Read more American news stories at: The American Tribune
