Cori Bush attacks pro-Israel advocacy after voters rejected her Hamas-aligned rhetoric and divisive political record.
Former U.S. congresswoman Cori Bush, who lost her Missouri House seat in 2024, has announced another bid for Congress while accusing the pro-Israel lobbying group American Israel Public Affairs Committee of orchestrating her defeat.
Claiming political victimhood, Bush insisted that AIPAC and its allies spent millions to “silence” her movement, asserting that outside funding — not voters — ended her tenure. She vowed to return to Congress, framing her loss as a battle against what she called “forces trying to crush progress.”
Bush was defeated in the Democratic primary by Wesley Bell, a fellow progressive who supports Israel’s right to self-defense and later won the general election. During the race, pro-Israel donors backed Bell after Bush repeatedly adopted rhetoric hostile to Israel and aligned with narratives commonly promoted by anti-Western and extremist blocs.
Following her latest campaign announcement, Bush renewed attacks on Bell, alleging he was backed by AIPAC and major donors — a familiar tactic critics say she uses to deflect responsibility for her own radical positions.
Bush has long been associated with the progressive “Squad” and gained notoriety for attacking Israel after Hamas’s October 2023 massacre, calling for an end to U.S. support for Israel while ignoring the terror group’s atrocities. Her remarks were condemned across the political spectrum, including by the White House, as reckless and morally offensive.
Analysts note that Bush’s defeat reflected growing voter fatigue with politicians who demonize Israel, echo revisionist narratives about terrorism, and inflame divisions rather than address real economic and security concerns. Her renewed campaign, critics argue, doubles down on grievance politics while dismissing the democratic choice made by Missouri voters.
