Cori Bush, a prominent progressive and former member of the "Squad," is campaigning to regain her seat in Missouri's 1st Congressional District after losing to incumbent Rep. Wesley Bell. As Missouri's primary elections approach on Tuesday, August 4th, 2026, Bush has intensified criticism of Bell, accusing him of prioritizing trips to Israel with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) over aiding St. Louis's recovery from a devastating tornado in May 2025.

In her latest campaign ad released on Thursday, Bush alleges Bell has not done enough to support the community's recovery efforts. Bell's campaign responded by sharing an ad featuring a constituent defending Bell's work, stating, "He's fighting for me and my neighbors."

Bush, known for her early and vocal criticism of Israel's operations in Gaza, has accused Bell of being too closely aligned with Republicans and AIPAC, labeling him a "former Republican campaign manager who is bought and paid for by AIPAC." She pledged to return to Congress without corporate cash or AIPAC-funded trips.

This contest reflects a broader ideological struggle within the Democratic Party, as socialist insurgents challenge the party establishment nationwide. In a related note, members of the Democratic Socialists of America marched in Washington, D.C., in 2025 carrying signs declaring "SOCIALISM BEATS FASCISM," equating the incoming Trump administration to fascism.

Bush's campaign and public statements have drawn attention, including a New York Times reference to AIPAC as a "hard-right" pro-Israel group. Bush herself posted on social media alongside her campaign ad highlighting these issues.

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Cori Bush, D-Mo., attends a news conference in Washington, D.C., on May 8, 2024. (Allison Robbert/Bloomberg via Getty Images)