Cori Bush was defeated in the Democratic primary Tuesday in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, ending her bid to reclaim the seat she lost two years ago. Incumbent Rep. Wesley Bell, a moderate prosecutor from St. Louis County, defeated Bush by a wide margin, capturing approximately 60% of the vote compared to Bush’s 37%, with about 95% of ballots counted.

The contest marked a rematch of the 2024 primary, when Bell unseated Bush with significant backing from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its affiliated super PACs, which collectively spent nearly $9 million to support Bell. This year, Bell received roughly $3.1 million in AIPAC-related funding amid ongoing criticism from Bush accusing him of being financially influenced by the pro-Israel lobbying group.

Bush, a former Black Lives Matter organizer and member of the progressive “Squad” in the House, had hoped to regain her seat on the wave of growing anti-Israel sentiment that has bolstered some left-leaning Democrats in recent election cycles. However, her campaign was unable to overcome Bell’s substantial financial and organizational support.

In response to criticism over the AIPAC backing, Bell maintained his stance on U.S.-Israeli relations, noting disagreement with Israel’s current Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, but emphasizing his commitment to a strong alliance between the two countries. “I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of the current prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, not a fan at all, but what I know about that group is that no matter who’s in charge, they’re going to support a strong US-Israeli relationship,” Bell said in an interview.

Following her 2024 defeat, Bush delivered an impassioned concession speech that signaled a shift in her approach. She described herself as “radicalized” by the loss and vowed to challenge the influence of AIPAC moving forward. “Pulling me away from my position as congresswoman — all you did was take some of the strings off,” she said. “Let me say this, AIPAC, I’m coming to tear your kingdom down,” she declared at the time, foreshadowing a continued political battle linked to advocacy and influence within the party.

Tuesday’s results reaffirm Bell’s position in Missouri’s 1st District, a Democratic stronghold, while leaving Bush’s future political plans uncertain following her second primary loss to the incumbent.