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Rep. Wesley Bell defeats predecessor Cori Bush in high-profile Missouri primary
['Posted August']
Roll Call
Missouri Rep. Wesley Bell crushed a comeback attempt by his predecessor Cori Bush, a democratic socialist and sharp critic of the war in Gaza, in a high-profile Democratic primary Tuesday that drew millions of dollars in ads from pro-Israel groups.
Bell’s win is also a setback for the progressive movement, which has notched Democratic primary victories in Colorado, New York and Pennsylvania this cycle, including knocking out three incumbents.
New Democrat Majority, a super PAC aligned with the center-left New Democrat Coalition, spent $1 million on ads backing Bell.
In 2024, Bell defeated Bush, a nurse, pastor and Black Lives Matter activist, by about 5 points in what was then the second-most expensive House primary.
He will next face Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, a former Kansas City mayor who was unopposed in the Democratic primary.