Former Rep. Cori Bush, who is endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, has avoided the debate stage in a contentious primary as she looks to unseat first-term Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO), who ousted her in 2024.
Bell, 51, challenged the former “Squad” member to three televised debates back in April ahead of Missouri’s Aug. 4 primary, but Bush, 50, has not yet accepted the offer.
“I think that’s disappointing because generally … it doesn’t benefit an incumbent,” Bell told the Washington Examiner. “But I just think that people deserve to hear the issues directly from us, and as I’ve said before, I’m willing to answer any and all of my opponent’s questions, but she’s going to have to answer mine, and she’s clearly showing that she doesn’t want to do that.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Bush’s campaign for comment.
The pair did make a joint appearance on a local radio show on July 24, during which Bell commented on Bush not taking up his televised debate challenge.
“You know the reason that I’ve been calling for an actual debate, and I appreciate the fact that she’s finally done even this,” Bell said. “I think that we should do televised debates, but she won’t respond to that.”
Bush cut in by saying her campaign has asked if the debates would have an audience, and that “no one would be brutalized this time.”
“That’s what we asked for, and you wouldn’t respond,” Bush said.
Bush’s comments refer to a town hall Bell held last year that was disrupted by protesters pressing the now-congressman over his support of Israel. The event saw protesters and security for the event get into a physical altercation, according to St. Louis Public Radio.
Five attendees of that town hall have filed a lawsuit against Bell and members of his security team, alleging that they were assaulted during the town hall.
“Protesters engaged in behavior that security deemed to be a threat and repeatedly asked them to leave,” Bell spokeswoman Jordan Blase said in a statement. “This is another desperate attempt by Cori Bush’s failing campaign to distract voters in the last three weeks before the election. This lawsuit will be deemed frivolous, because that is exactly what it is.”
The primary between Bell, a former St. Louis County prosecutor, and Bush is shaping up to be a bitter fight over what direction the Democratic Party should take.
Bush and her allies have repeatedly hit Bell for being supported by the United Democracy Project, an arm of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The socialist candidate’s bid comes amid a surge of socialist candidates in Democratic primaries.
The former House Democrat was ousted in part over her anti-Israel stance, an issue that has shifted significantly within the party over the past two years. But she also faced an ethics scandal over improper use of campaign funds, prompting a Justice Department investigation.
In 2024, pro-Israel groups spent heavily in the race to support Bell’s bid to oust the Squad-aligned Bush, who is a vocal critic of Israel. United Democracy Project funneled $9.3 million into the race.
Bush, in her concession speech, had one message for the pro-Israel organization, saying, “AIPAC, I’m coming to tear your kingdom down.”
In a social media post endorsing Bush, the DSA wrote: “It’s time to beat AIPAC once and for all.”
“DSA is proud to endorse Cori Bush for Congress,” the organization posted on July 7. “Cori is taking her seat back to fight for the world St Louisians deserve — one where our taxes pay for our communities, not war.
SOCIALIST WINS A ‘WARNING SIGN’ FOR WESLEY BELL IN REMATCH AGAINST CORI BUSH
When asked about Bush’s DSA endorsement, Bell told the Washington Examiner that he tries to “get away from the labels because at the end of the day, if we’re all Democrats, that means we’re all rowing in the same direction.”
“So I think that even with those folks, there’s a lot more that we agree with than that we disagree with,” Bell continued. “And so I’m gonna not try to get into this dichotomy where it’s us against them.”
Continue reading...
[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
