Missouri US Rep. Wesley Bell wins a Democratic primary rematch against former Rep. Cori Bush
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell won Tuesday's rematch in the Missouri Democratic primary against former Rep. Cori Bush, an outspoken activist who had been part of a progressive group of House members known as the Squad.
Although democratic socialists like Bush have made gains in other places around the country this year, she fell short while running to reclaim the St. Louis-based seat that she lost two years ago.
As was the case in the last campaign, Bell was backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which lobbies for U.S. support of Israel. Bush has denounced Israel’s military action in Gaza.
But Bell said the race came down to his work in the district, not international affairs, and he pitched voters on a more pragmatic approach to Congress.
The rematch was one of several consequential primaries in the state. In western Missouri, Republicans picked state Sen. Rick Brattin to try to unseat Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver in a dramatically reshaped distri…