Cori Bush, a progressive Democrat, is seeking to return to Congress by ousting moderate Democrat Rep. Wesley Bell in the Missouri 1st Congressional District primary. Bush, who was the first Black Lives Matter organizer elected to Congress, made her mark as an activist with her anti-evictions protest.

Bush’s Record

Bush’s record in Congress includes her work on eviction protections and her efforts to oppose abortion bans. She shared her own story of having an abortion after being sexually assaulted as a teenager and led a bus tour through the state ahead of the 2022 midterms.

Bell, on the other hand, has emphasized his ability to work with Republicans and has pointed to his success in securing funding for the district after a tornado hit in 2025. However, some in the district have criticized Bell for not doing enough to get more funding in the wake of the disaster.

Progressive Support

Bush has the support of progressive groups such as Justice Democrats, which has backed her campaign. The group’s spokesperson, Usamah Andrabi, said that Bush was the model for what it looks like to be a fighter for your community as a member of Congress.

Bush has argued that Bell is the one who doesn’t have a record to run on, pointing to her own work on eviction protections and her efforts to get funding for Missouri residents under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.