Missouri Representative Cori Bush blasted the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) for heavily funding her challenger in her district's primary elections, which she ended up losing on Tuesday.
Speaking after the results came in, she pinned her defeat on the pro-Israel group and claimed it "radicalized" her. "Now they need to be afraid. They are about to see this other Cori, this other side. Let me say this, I just grew up more over the past week. There is nothing that happens in my life that happens in vain. It was meant to happen. AIPAC, I'm coming to take your kingdom down," she claimed.
Bush had already rejected leaving the political sphere should she be defeated. "One thing I don't do is go away," she said before the elections. However, she will leave her post after her term ends, with Bell set to take over, considering Missouri's 1st Congressional District has historically voted for the Democratic party.
It was one of the most high-profile races in the country, as United Democracy Project, a super PAC spent almost $9 million to support Bell in the race. Overall, more than $18 million were spent, making it the second most expensive one in the country.
Bush had complained about the funding received by her contender, recently telling NBC News "I'm just trying to make sense of why so much money would be spent in our congressional race when our district has so many needs."
The "Squad" lawmaker was among the most vocal critics of Israel's handling of the war in Gaza, which followed Hamas' October 7 attacks that left some 1,200 dead and about 250 hostages. She has accused Israel of conducting an "ethnic cleansing campaign" in its retaliation and rallied against funding the country's military efforts.
Bell, on his end, has said that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S., and that he would be supportive of the country if elected. He and Bush hold similar views on most other issues, including "lowering health care costs, making the community safer and enacting policies that aim to help the working class, as well as abortion rights."
However, Bell also focused on the fact that Bush is the target of several investigations by the Justice Department, Federal Election Commission and House Ethics Committee over alleged misuse of campaign funds for personal security.
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