Establishment Democrats notch rare win as Wesley Bell fends off DSA-backed Cori Bush
<p>Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.) defeated former Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/26/cori-bush-hakeem-jeffries-speaker-2027-vote" target="_blank">Cori Bush</a> in his primary on Tuesday, thwarting an attempt by left-wing groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America, to avenge Bush's 2024 loss.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>It's a win for the Democratic establishment in an election cycle where triumphs against left-wing insurgents have been few and far between. </p><hr><ul><li>Bell's win was propelled in part by United Democracy Project, the super PAC arm of AIPAC, which spent more than $3 million to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/09/aipac-missouri-israel-cori-bush-bell-primary" target="_blank">thwart Bush's comeback</a>, according to Federal Election Commission filings.</li><li>Bell was also endorsed by House Democratic leadership and the Congressional Black Caucus, while Bush had the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and left-wing groups such as DSA and the Justice Democrats.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>Bell led Bush by 45 percentage points with<strong> </strong>about a quarter of precincts reporting<strong> </strong>as of Tuesday evening,<strong> </strong>with the Associated Press projecting he would win the nomination.</p><ul><li>Bush, a former progressive organizer, represented the St. Louis-based seat from 2021 to 2025.</li><li>She lost her 2024 primary to Bell amid a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/01/30/justice-department-doj-squad-missouri-security" target="_blank">campaign finance scandal</a> and roughly $9 million in <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/04/cori-bush-wesley-bell-aipac-negative-ads" target="_blank">AIPAC ad spending</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>By the numbers: </strong>In addition to UDP, the super PAC of the center-left New Democrat Coalition and the American Bridge-affiliated Project 218 spent another $1.1 million and $250,000, respectively, supporting Bell.</p><ul><li>Bush was supported by a little over $200,000 in collective outside spending from progressive groups, including MoveOn and the Working Families Party.</li><li>Bell also out-raised and outspent Bush, bringing in nearly $3.6 million and spending more than $2.9 million as of July 15, compared with Bush's $1.3 million in fundraising and $1.2 million in spending.</li></ul><p><strong>What's next: </strong>Bell is all but certain to win in November — former Vice President Kamala Harris carried the district by 57 percentage points in 2024.</p>
<p>Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.) defeated former Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/26/cori-bush-hakeem-jeffries-speaker-2027-vote" target="_blank">Cori Bush</a> in his primary on Tuesday, thwarting an attempt by left-wing groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America, to avenge Bush's 2024 loss.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>It's a win for the Democratic establishment in an election cycle where triumphs against left-wing insurgents have been few and far between. </p><hr><ul><li>Bell's win was propelled in part by United Democracy Project, the super PAC arm of AIPAC, which spent more than $3 million to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/09/aipac-missouri-israel-cori-bush-bell-primary" target="_blank">thwart Bush's comeback</a>, according to Federal Election Commission filings.</li><li>Bell was also endorsed by House Democratic leadership and the Congressional Black Caucus, while Bush had the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and left-wing groups such as DSA and the Justice Democrats.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>Bell led Bush by 45 percentage points with<strong> </strong>about a quarter of precincts reporting<strong> </strong>as of Tuesday evening,<strong> </strong>with the Associated Press projecting he would win the nomination.</p><ul><li>Bush, a former progressive organizer, represented the St. Louis-based seat from 2021 to 2025.</li><li>She lost her 2024 primary to Bell amid a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/01/30/justice-department-doj-squad-missouri-security" target="_blank">campaign finance scandal</a> and roughly $9 million in <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/04/cori-bush-wesley-bell-aipac-negative-ads" target="_blank">AIPAC ad spending</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>By the numbers: </strong>In addition to UDP, the super PAC of the center-left New Democrat Coalition and the American Bridge-affiliated Project 218 spent another $1.1 million and $250,000, respectively, supporting Bell.</p><ul><li>Bush was supported by a little over $200,000 in collective outside spending from progressive groups, including MoveOn and the Working Families Party.</li><li>Bell also out-raised and outspent Bush, bringing in nearly $3.6 million and spending more than $2.9 million as of July 15, compared with Bush's $1.3 million in fundraising and $1.2 million in spending.</li></ul><p><strong>What's next: </strong>Bell is all but certain to win in November — former Vice President Kamala Harris carried the district by 57 percentage points in 2024.</p>
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