Missouri Democratic Representative Cori Bush‘s loss Tuesday night in her primary is sparking conservative backlash on social media over spending in the race by the pro-Israel political action committee American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Bush’s race against Wesley Bell, a prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County, is considered to be among the most expensive House primary races in U.S. history, largely because of AIPAC’s spending in support of Bell.
According to The New York Times, AIPAC’s super PAC dropped more than $8 million to defeat Bush, who was among the Democrats’ progressive “squad” members calling for the U.S. to halt funding to Israel after it launched airstrikes on Gaza following the October 7 attack by the Hamas militant group. The strikes have killed more than 39,000 people, the Associated Press reported, citing Palestinian health officials.
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According to reporting by Politico, Bush had the support of Justice Democrats, which spent nearly $2 million on ads. However, Bell’s backing by AIPAC, which launched a host of attack ads against Bush, proved to be too much to overcome.
Bush’s loss makes her the second member of the progressive group to lose their seat after Representative Jamaal Bowman in New York earlier this year. Bowman accused Israel of committing “apartheid” and “genocide” and supported a ceasefire in the conflict. In June, he lost his seat to AIPAC-funded challenger George Latimer.
AIPAC vowed to spend as much as $100 million this year to unseat members of the progressive group. According to reporting by The Intercept on Tuesday, AIPAC spent a total of $25 million to defeat Bowman and Bush.
After the primary was called, AIPAC posted on its website: “AIPAC congratulates Wesley Bell for his consequential victory over an incumbent anti-Israel detractor. Once again, a progressive pro-Israel Democrat has prevailed over a candidate who represents the extremist fringe that is hostile to the Jewish state. The outcome in this race — as in so many others — shows that the pro-Israel position is both good policy and good politics for both parties.”
In her fiery concession speech, Bush said that leaving Congress “takes some strings off.”
“Because now, there are some strings that I have attached,” she said. “And as much as I love my job, all they did was radicalize me, and now they should be afraid. They’re about to see this other Cori, this other side.
“And let me say this: AIPAC, I’m coming to tear your kingdom down!” she shouted to cheers from her supporters.
Following Bush’s loss, a host of conservatives and Republicans weighed in on the immense spending by AIPAC.
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend. The friend of my enemy is my enemy. AI-PAC bought another member of congress last night! Cori Bush had a message for #AIPAC” – conservative entrepreneur Ryan Matta posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“AIPAC bought the seat for $9 MILLION. I don’t care for Cori Bush, but anyone who is pro America should not be cheating for a foreign lobby buying our elections- regardless of your opinion of the candidates. – conservative journalist Ian Carroll wrote on X.
AIPAC has dumped more than $7 Million into Wesley Bell defeating Cori Bush.
Foreign money easily buys elections. And if you don’t think critically- you won’t even notice.
I don’t care for Cori Bush, not a pro Cori post.
Just an anti foreign money buying our elections post. https://t.co/vPIeJeICLp
— Ian Carroll (@Cancelcloco) August 7, 2024
“Not a good look,” conservative commentator Liz Churchill wrote on X in response to Carroll’s post.
The race was called with 94 percent of the votes counted. At the time, Bell had 51 percent while Bush had 45.7 percent.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust the people of this district have placed in me,” Bell said in a statement, adding that he is “committed to serving the St. Louis region in Congress with integrity, transparency, and dedication.”
Newsweek emailed Bush’s office and Bell’s campaign Tuesday afternoon for comment.
Following the result, challengers to other members of the progressive group of Democrats issued warnings, including Don Samuels, who is running against Ilhan Omar in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.
“Congratulations, Wesley! It’s clear that Democrats around the country are ready to move on from those who put politics above the people,” Samuels wrote on X. “In just one week, MN CD5 has the opportunity to do the same. To everyone in Minneapolis and the suburbs, I hope to earn your support.”