Cori Bush Launches Campaign for Congressional Comeback
Former U.S. Representative Cori Bush, known for her role in the liberal “Squad,” has announced her intention to re-enter Congress.
Bush, who previously represented Missouri’s first congressional district for two terms, is looking to regain her seat after falling to current U.S. Representative Wesley Bell in the 2024 Democratic primary.
In a post on X, Bush shared a video along with a message: “St. Louis deserves a leader who is built different. That’s why I’m running to represent Missouri’s 1st District in Congress. We need a fighter who will lower costs, protect our communities, and make life fairer. I’ll be that fighter.”
She also provided a statement detailing her reasons for running, emphasizing the need for a leader who is “ten toes down.”
“Right now, we are in the fight of our lives. It isn’t politics as usual, and we can’t afford to operate as such. This is about survival for our families, and the moment is now,” Bush remarked. “I’m running because Missouri’s First deserves leadership that’s built different. A leader who doesn’t just navigate a broken system, but works to build a better one…”
Bush lost to Bell in 2024 by about 6,800 votes.
Bell reacted to her announcement, saying, “the people of this district fired Cori Bush because of her absence in the district and her failure to stand up for the Democratic agenda, not to mention the personal and legal troubles that continue to plague her.”
His remarks referenced a Department of Justice investigation into Bush’s alleged misuse of campaign funds related to private security services, which included payments to her husband, though the complaint was eventually dismissed.
Bush contends her loss was influenced by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which reportedly spent over $8.6 million to defeat her due to her outspoken views on Israel’s actions in Gaza.
In her recent campaign video, she stated, “I lost my last election because I spoke truth, they pushed back, attacked my name, my motives, spread lies and hate.”
Bush gained significant attention in 2021, making history as the first African-American woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri.
