Kori Bush Launches Campaign for Missouri’s First Congressional District
Kori Bush is back in the race for Missouri’s First Congressional District. Earlier this year, she released a campaign video that emphasizes her roots in St. Louis. In it, she criticizes her political opponents for using large financial resources and negative tactics in an attempt to force her out of Congress.
In the video and on social media, Bush highlights her commitment to fighting for her family’s safety and lowering costs for her community. Reflecting on the challenges she faced in the 2024 campaign, she shared, “But as I told the truth, they pushed back. They attacked my name, my motivations, my lies, my hatred.” The video also references AIPAC and her Republican counterparts.
This new initiative follows her recent loss in the primary, where St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell won with 51% of the votes, benefiting from AIPAC’s support. AIPAC publicly congratulated Bell after his victory, yet Bush contends that the external financial influence from pro-Israel groups played a critical role in the results. In June, she labeled AIPAC a “threat to democracy” and accused its donors of attempting to buy influence in Congress.
Her criticism of AIPAC stems from ongoing tensions between the organization and her camp. In February 2024, she and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez exchanged heated words over the organization’s response to reports of violence linked to Hamas during the October 7 attack in Israel. Moreover, Bush voted against the “No Immigration Benefits Under the Hama Stellarist Act,” which barred participants in that attack from entering the United States, leaving only a couple of representatives to oppose the measure.
During her time in office, Bush faced scrutiny regarding her campaign finances. The Department of Justice investigated her payments to her husband for “security services,” despite his lack of a private security license. Additionally, reports surfaced indicating that her campaign had paid significant sums to a self-described “spiritual guru” known for making anti-Semitic remarks. Altogether, her committee spent over $770,000 on private security, even as she publicly supported movements to “refund the police.”
Bush’s congressional career is marked by her progressive stance. She once proposed a massive $14 trillion response plan and criticized Republican Senator Byron for what she described as Donald Trump’s “white supremacy.” Recently, she made headlines for opposing the execution of a convicted murderer and rapist who identified as transgender. She has also faced backlash for her social media posts during Memorial Day and Veterans Day, prompting her to make edits following public outrage.
Now, Bush aims to reclaim her congressional seat by presenting herself as a champion for the ordinary residents of St. Louis, distancing herself from “wealthy donors.” In her new campaign video, she asserts that her community is “building something different” and commits to bringing resilience back to Congress. “We see our rights rewind, our history is being rewritten, and our lives are being caught up in the line across America,” she states.
