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Bowman loss bodes well for Wesley Bell against Cori Bush in MO-1. [1]

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Date: 2024-06-25  

The loss by incumbent Rep. Bowman in NY bodes very well for STL County prosecutor Wesley Bell against incumbent US Rep. Cori Bush here in Missouri. Both candidates are strong progressives, at least on issues within the United States. Bush knows how to stroke her base and it's still hers to lose but the Bush campaign is now resorting to hysterical ads and insults against fellow Democrats. I like Rep. Bush personally. Her career as an activist still has promise. Of course, Bush will blame AIPAC and Joe Biden and the war in Gaza. St. Louis voters deserve better and an effective Rep. who will focus on local issues, national issues and the struggle against totalitarian Trump.

If one truly believes that the role of a Member of Congress is to embody the struggles of “the base” then Bush is still a good choice. I like her personally and admire her fighting spirit. Rep. Cori Bush gets more national attention than any politician in Missouri except Sen. Josh Hawley. She is, in the words of Jesse Jackson, “a tree shaker not a jam maker.” St. Louis, however, needs an effective Congressperson who works well with others. We have real needs in MO-1 that aren’t met by headlines and clicks.

Wesley Bell has a background characterized by both street activism and effectiveness in governing. He was re-elected as St. Louis County Prosecutor unopposed. He is untouched by scandal. Bell knows when to reach out AND how to punch back.

Much is going to be made about AIPAC’s support for Bell. Bush is trying to make it the leading issue in the campaign. It is not a winning strategy, even in a district that is one of the brightest blue in the country. Parts of MO-1 look almost like Gaza. Frankly, most voters here don’t care a whole lot about the Middle East and those who do are with Bell. We are not under the illusion that our Rep. will influence the terrible struggle so far away. So far, BTW, I’ve seen more ads for Bush than from AIPAC or the Bell campaign. AIPAC has helped Bell but I doubt their support will make the difference. Bush was vulnerable from the start — she strikes back but never reaches out.

Full disclosure: decades ago I worked proudly (and briefly) for Rep. William L. Clay Sr, currently 93 years young and the first African-American to represent Missouri in Congress. Clay, a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, is a noted author and historian.

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