Bush, a progressive Democrat, was first elected to the district in 2020. She defeated then-incumbent William Lacy Clay(D) in the Democratic primary, 48.5% to 45.6%, and Anthony Rogers (R) in the general, 78.8% to 19.0%. Bush was re-elected in 2022, winning both the primary and general elections by at least 42.9 percentage points.
The 2024 election features two prominent issues. The first is a federal investigation of Bush’s alleged misuse of campaign funds to pay her now-husband, Cortney Merritts, for security services. The Bush campaign paid Merritts $42,500 in the first three quarters of 2023 for wage expenses and security services. According to Politico, House members are “permitted to use that campaign money for private security and can even pay family members as long as they provide a ‘bona fide service’ at a fair market value.” Bush said of the allegations: “In recent months, right wing organizations have lodged baseless complaints against me, peddling notions that I have misused campaign funds … I have complied with all applicable laws and House rules — and will continue to prioritize the rules that govern us as federal officials.”
The other issue is the Israel-Hamas War. Since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023, Bush has criticized Israel’s response, voted against aid packages for Israel, called for a cease-fire, and opposed a resolution to bar members of Hamas from entering the United States. American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) endorsed Bell in February 2024. Bell, also running on a progressive platform, criticized Bush for her opposition to U.S. investments in Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system and said Israel had a right to self-defense.
AIPAC’s super PAC, United Democracy Project (UDP), spent $2.5 million on ads supporting Bell through the end of June. This makes Missouri’s First the second Democratic primary where UDP spent in opposition to an incumbent Democrat. UDP spent $14.6 million opposing Jamaal Bowman’s (D) re-election campaign in New York’s 16th Congressional District. Bowman lost the Democratic primary.
Bush has served Missouri’s 1st Congressional District since 2021. She said, “I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck, to be burdened with student and medical debt, and to live day-to-day in St. Louis where poverty is rampant, gun violence is rampant, and our unhoused community suffers daily. We need a champion for policies that prioritizes the needs of the people … It is my honor to champion that work on behalf of our community.”
Bell has served as the St. Louis County prosecuting attorney since 2019. He said he was “committed to strengthening our economy by focusing on workers and job and skills training, lowering health insurance and prescription drug costs, standing up for seniors, and protecting our planet by fighting climate change.”
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