Missouri Democratic Rep. Cori Bush lost her congressional seat Tuesday night, becoming the second member of the far-left “Squad” to fall in a primary this cycle. St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell defeated her decisively, leading 54.9% to Bush’s 41.8% when Decision Desk HQ called the race. Her defeat sparked a wave of online ridicule from Republicans and conservative commentators. Pro-Trump comedian Terrance K. Williams mocked her loss, while Rep. Matt Gaetz sarcastically remarked that he would “miss Cori Bush missing every committee meeting.” Other figures, including Students for Trump co-founder Ryan Fournier and actor Michael Rapaport, also celebrated her ouster.
Bush entered politics after the Ferguson riots, in which she participated, later defeating longtime incumbent William “Lacy” Clay Jr. in 2020. She quickly joined forces with progressive lawmakers such as Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Rashida Tlaib, gaining a national profile for her activism and outspoken positions. In recent years, she faced criticism for comments about Israel, her alignment with pro-Palestinian campus protests.
Her loss follows that of fellow Squad member Jamaal Bowman, who was defeated in a primary roughly 1,000 miles away after months of controversy and criticism over his support for pro-Hamas demonstrators. Both Bush and Bowman claim their losses stem not from their policy positions but from heavy spending by the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC. Nonetheless, polling before Tuesday’s vote had already indicated Bush was vulnerable, and Bell’s decisive win confirms the political shift in Missouri’s 1st District.