Former Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) has announced her bid to reclaim Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, just months after losing her seat in a contentious Democratic primary. In a new campaign video released Friday, Bush invoked her St. Louis roots and accused “big money” interests of pushing her out of office.
Bush, a former member of the far-left “Squad,” lost her 2024 primary race to St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell, who secured 51 percent of the vote with backing from AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying organization. Bush’s announcement video featured headlines referencing AIPAC and Republican donors, framing her defeat as the result of “outside money” and “lies” targeting her progressive agenda.
“But because I spoke truth, they pushed back,” Bush said. “Attacked my name, my motives, spread lies and hate.”
Bush has frequently clashed with AIPAC, calling it a “threat to democracy” and accusing it of trying to “buy congressional seats.” Her rhetoric intensified after fellow “Squad” member Jamaal Bowman lost his New York primary in a similar contest influenced by pro-Israel spending.
The former congresswoman’s career has been defined by controversy and hard-left positions. Bush opposed the “No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act,” which barred participants in the October 7 Hamas attacks from entering the United States — leaving her and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) as the only two House members to vote no.
She has also faced a federal investigation over campaign payments to her husband for “security services,” despite his lack of a security license. Her campaign reportedly spent over $770,000 on private security while she advocated for “Defund the Police.” Additional scrutiny followed revelations that her committee paid thousands to a “spiritual guru” with a history of antisemitic remarks.
Despite these scandals, Bush insists she represents working-class St. Louisans who “don’t answer to wealthy donors.” In her new announcement, she said, “All across America, we see our rights rolled back, our history being rewritten, our lives on the line. The stakes for our community have never been higher.”
Bush will now face an uphill battle to regain her seat in what promises to be another closely watched race in 2026.
