Wesley Bell defeats Cori Bush in Democratic primary

Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.) won his primary election on Tuesday against former Rep. Cori Bush, marking a significant victory for the Democratic establishment. Bell's campaign received substantial financial support from the United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with AIPAC, which spent over $3 million to support his candidacy. Bell was also endorsed by House Democratic leadership and the Congressional Black Caucus, while Bush was backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and left-wing organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the Justice Democrats. With about a quarter of precincts reporting, Bell led Bush by 45 percentage points, and the Associated Press projected his victory. Bell's fundraising efforts outpaced Bush's, raising nearly $3.6 million compared to Bush's $1.3 million. The general election is expected to favor Bell, as the district was won by former Vice President Kamala Harris by 57 percentage points in 2024.