A pro-Israel super PAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) United Democracy Project, is targeting Missouri Democrat Cori Bush in her upcoming primary against St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell. Bush has been critical of Israel’s response to attacks by Hamas, calling it an “ethnic cleansing campaign” and boycotting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech. AIPAC has spent over $8.4 million to unseat Bush, citing her hostile criticism of Israel since joining Congress in 2021.
The race underscores the complexities faced by Democrats in this year’s elections due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, leading to disagreements among core constituencies on how President Biden’s administration has responded. AIPAC’s involvement in previous races, including the defeat of U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, highlights the influence of pro-Israel groups in shaping election outcomes. Despite the financial support against her, Bush remains confident in the support of St. Louis voters who align with her pro-peace, pro-democracy, and anti-war stance.
Following the Gaza conflict, Bush faced backlash for her comments on Israel’s actions, prompting Bell to drop his Senate plans and challenge her in the primary. Bell, also a Black activist involved in the Ferguson movement, criticized Bush’s characterization of Israel’s response to the attacks as ‘wrong and offensive.’ He emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution in the Middle East, advocating for a two-state solution to protect the innocent on both sides.
In addition to AIPAC, other pro-Israel groups like DMFI PAC are supporting Bell in the primary race against Bush, while progressive organizations are rallying behind her. Reject AIPAC, a coalition of Jewish peace organizations, Arab American, and Muslim groups, are backing Bush and other Squad members. Justice Democrats, part of this coalition, have spent around $1.5 million supporting Bush, denouncing AIPAC’s heavy spending in the race as a threat to democracy. The question of money’s influence on elections and the Democratic Party’s alignment with the needs of the people is central to this debate.
Bush has received endorsements from key Democratic leaders like Sen. Bernie Sanders, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and others. However, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has stayed neutral in the Missouri race, not providing contributions to either candidate. The contest between Bush and Bell reflects broader tensions within the Democratic Party over foreign policy stances and the influence of special interest groups in shaping election outcomes. As the primary approaches, the outcome will illustrate the power dynamics at play within the party and the impact of outside spending on candidate viability.
