Pro-Israel Congressman Wesley Bell Defeats Anti-Israel Challenger Cori Bush in Missouri Democratic Primary

Wesley Bell, a pro-Israel Democratic congressman, secured a decisive victory over Cori Bush in the Missouri Democratic primary held between August 5 and 6, 2026. Bell won nearly 60% of the vote compared to Bush's 37%, solidifying his path to reelection in a strongly Democratic district. The race was marked by sharp disagreements over Israel, with Bush adopting a strongly critical stance, accusing Israel of "ethnic cleansing" and "genocide" in Gaza, and pledging to support Palestinian justice.

Bell, 51, has been a consistent supporter of Israel in Congress, backed by the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC, which invested over $2 million in his campaign. He opposed a recent proposal to cut military aid to Israel and co-sponsored legislation to deepen U.S.-Israel security cooperation. Bell also supported sanctions against the International Criminal Court for attempting to issue arrest warrants against Israeli officials.

Bush, aligned with the socialist and anti-Israel wing of the Democratic Party, made opposition to Israel a central theme of her campaign. She condemned Israel's military response in October 2023 and criticized Bell's pro-Israel positions. This primary rematch follows a similar contest two years earlier, which Bell also won with AIPAC's support. Despite Bell's victory, the Democratic Party continues to see a rise in anti-Israel candidates winning primaries in states like New York, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, signaling ongoing internal divisions over U.S. policy toward Israel.