ST. LOUIS – There were big reactions after Congresswoman Cori Bush lost her seat to St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell in Tuesday’s primary election for the 1st Congressional District.
The race garnered national attention as it pulled in big money from organizations upset over Bush’s stance toward Israel.
Bush delivered a fiery speech after her loss Tuesday night, saying it would only take some strings off.
“Because now, there are some strings that I have attached, and as much as I love my job, all they did was radicalize me. And now, they should be afraid,” she said.
Over $18 million was raised between the two nominees, making it the second most expensive congressional district primary race in U.S. history.
“Let me say this: AIPAC, I’m coming to tear your kingdom down,” Bush said.
Bell received most of the outside funding, almost entirely by a pro-Israel lobby group. He spent the past six years at St. Louis’ prosecuting attorney.
“They’re about to see this other Cori. There is nothing that happens in my life that happens in vain. So, this happened because it was meant to happen, and let me say: it’s because of the work that I need to do,” Bush said Tuesday.
As a results of organizing efforts to educate and empower Jewish voters in the congressional district, St. Louis announced historic turnout numbers among the demographic.
“We don’t support or oppose any candidates. Our organization simply does voter turnout, and it appears that Jewish St. Louisans were highly motivated to turn out and vote,” Benjamin Singer, from St. Louis Together, said. “In fact, we saw three times (higher) voter turnout among Jewish families compared to the average St. Louis family.”
Congresswoman Bush is known for her activism during the Ferguson protests and has been a vocal advocate for police reform, protestor rights, and environmental issues like the EPA cleanup at Coldwater Creek.
The victory for Bell wasn’t just a win, but a rare instance where a challenger ousted an incumbent in a congressional primary.
