During the first quarter of 2024, Representative Cori Bush (D-MO) spent nearly $100,000 on legal expenses amid ongoing investigations into her campaign fund usage. Bush, known for her outspoken criticisms of Israel in Congress, faces increasing jeopardy of losing her seat, as her Democratic primary opponent holds more than double her cash on hand heading into the final months of the race.
In January, Bush disclosed a Justice Department investigation into potential misuse of campaign funds related to her hiring of her husband for her security team. Campaign finance records reveal that from January through March, Bush paid approximately $86,000 to law firms.
With the August primary election approaching, Bush’s campaign reports $528,000 in funds with $91,000 in debt. In contrast, her primary opponent, Wesley Bell, boasts over $1.1 million in cash on hand with no debt. Despite the scrutiny, Bush maintains her innocence, stating her full cooperation with the investigation. Both the Federal Election Commission and the House Ethics Committee are also scrutinizing her campaign expenditures.
Although Bush easily defeated a primary challenge in 2022, her support for Palestinians and critiques of Israel following the October 7 attacks by Hamas have stirred more significant controversy this year. In response to the attacks, Bush called for an end to U.S. government support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid.
Following these remarks, Bell, a progressive prosecutor in St. Louis, withdrew from the Missouri Senate race to challenge Bush. He promptly criticized Bush’s stance on Israel, asserting her lack of understanding of the issue’s complexities. Bell has garnered endorsements from influential lobbies, including AIPAC and DMFI PAC, the political arm of the Democratic Majority for Israel.
DMFI PAC, having spent nearly $9 million in 2022, now holds around $3 million cash on hand for the upcoming cycle. Additionally, DMFI PAC is targeting another member of the progressive “Squad,” Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY).
In January, Shine My Crown reported that Bush officially kicked off her reelection campaign.
Rallying her supporters, she emphasized the importance of community engagement as she seeks reelection to represent Missouri’s 1st Congressional District.
With nearly 500 attendees present, Bush, the first African-American woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri, spoke passionately about her commitment to working with elected officials and diverse groups of supporters to amplify their voices in the representation of the St. Louis area.
“It would be so much easier for me to go back to being a nurse every single day, working as a nurse, which I love. But that’s not where my calling is right now,” Bush said. “My calling is to be here to serve you, to represent you by talking with you, working with you, hearing from you, being out in the street with you, learning what you need, and hearing from you.”
