Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) did not take her primary loss lightly, especially when it came to AIPAC, the pro-Israel PAC that supported her opponent, Wesley Bell. Following her defeat, Bush vehemently declared, “I’m coming to tear your kingdom down,” in a bid to challenge AIPAC’s role in her political downfall.
Bush’s loss adds to the growing list of progressive setbacks this election cycle, following Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s (D-NY) earlier primary defeat. Bush portrayed her departure from Congress as a liberation from political constraints, allowing her to pursue more radical activism against AIPAC and its influence on American politics.
Bell’s victory was significantly aided by AIPAC’s financial support, with Sludge reporting that the PAC’s super PAC contributed more than $7 million to his campaign. This level of support has raised questions among progressive figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who called for a reevaluation of AIPAC’s impact on Democratic politics.
AIPAC defended its position, stating that it contributes to a broad spectrum of Democratic candidates and supports progressive values, including a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. The response to Bush’s post-primary comments reflects ongoing debates about the role of political action committees and their influence on elections within the Democratic Party.
