Just in case things weren’t interesting enough for Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), they just got kicked up another notch. Bush now faces a challenge for her House seat from not one but two prominent Missouri Democrats.
Let’s review:
In October, St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell (D) shook things up a bit when he announced that rather than challenging Josh Hawley (R) for his U.S. Senate seat, he would instead mount a primary challenge to Bush for Missouri’s First Congressional District.
Just Sunday, Bush demonstrated her desperate need for a dictionary as she accused Israel of an “ethnic cleansing” campaign. In short, she’s ripe for being primaried by a saner, more competent contender, which, despite his progressive leanings, Bell unquestionably is.
Moreover, Bush has taken heavy criticism for her stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, something for which Bell provides a welcome contrast.
This time around, Bush would have to face not only local criticism for what some label as being anti-Israel, as opposed to pro-Palestine.
The powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee — a well-funded lobbying group known for directing funds against candidates it deems unfriendly to Israeli interests — has publicly lambasted Bush for her recent stances in regards to Israel.
Bush’s district includes several municipalities with a substantial Jewish population, including University City, Creve Coeur, Olivette and part of Clayton.
Bell on Monday was sharply critical of Bush’s stance on Israel: “We can’t give aid and comfort to terrorists, and Hamas is a terrorist organization.”
None of which is to characterize Bell as a moderate. But given that the First District votes overwhelmingly Democrat (Bush beat her Republican challenger in 2022 by almost 50 points and nearly 60 points in 2020), Bell is likely to be seen as a viable alternative to Bush.
Recently, things took an even stranger turn for Bush when it was revealed that she was the subject of a DOJ investigation over alleged misuse of campaign and/or government funds.
READ MORE:
CONFIRMED: House Democrat Being Criminally Investigated Is ‘Squad’ Member Cori Bush
WATCH: Cori Bush Admits She’s Under Criminal Investigation and Offers a Laughable Explanation
WATCH: Cori Bush’s New Explanation As to Why She Hired Her Husband Is Something Else
Now, another Democrat has announced her intent to challenge Bush: Maria Chappelle-Nadal.
Chappelle-Nadal, a Democrat who more recently worked as an aide to St. Louis County Councilwoman Rita Heard Days, said in a post on social media that St. Louis needed “a real choice” besides Bush, “who has created more controversy than progress since we sent her to Washington,” and Bell, “a Republican plant who’s failed at the biggest job he’s ever held.”
“It’s time to have a conversation about effective public service for our country, and that’s why I’m running for Congress,” she said.
Chappelle-Nadal, 49, served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2005-2011, the Missouri Senate from 2011 to 2019, and the House again from 2019-2021.
If the name rings a bell, it’s because we’ve written about the former legislator here at RedState a time or three. From the “She Seems Nice” files:
SEE:
Missouri State Senator Calls for Assassination of Trump
Democratic State Senator Won’t Face Expulsion From Missouri Senate for Trump Assassination Comment
Fellow Dem Calls McCaskill a Piece of WHAT?!
In the social media post sharing her announcement, Chappelle-Nadal maintains that she has more legislative experience than Bush and Bell combined.
I’m running for Congress. Join me at https://t.co/tdoU6j1Bb6 and let’s give St. Louis the leadership that it deserves. https://t.co/xPAvXb7LQi#MOPolitics #StLouis #Democrat #Congress pic.twitter.com/N5VDRDdRN7
— Maria Chappelle-Nadal (@Maria4Missouri) February 6, 2024
There may not be much hope for a conservative or Republican heading to Washington to represent CD-1 anytime soon, but the Democratic primary should be lively, if nothing else.
