Rep. Cori Bush faces fierce competition from pro-Israel opponent

(JTA) — In many ways, Tuesday’s primary in Missouri’s First District resembles the June primary in New York’s Westchester County that saw Rep. Jamaal Bowman lose his seat. In both races, a more centrist Democrat is challenging a member of the hardline left-wing “Squad” and outspoken critic of Israel. In both races, pro-Israel groups have spent millions to defeat the incumbent. And in both races, the progressive incumbent has accused the pro-Israel activists of racism. The difference in Missouri: Both candidates are prominent African-American civil rights activists. Rep. Cori Bush, who is running for reelection, rose to prominence leading protests in Ferguson after the 2014 police killing of Michael Brown. Her challenger Wesley Bell, the St. Louis County prosecutor, won that office in 2018 by ousting an incumbent who failed to prosecute the policeman who killed Brown. Now, Bell is seeking to oust Bush, arguing that she is more focused on raising her own profile than on delivering results for constituents in the St. Louis-area district. “You can’t just cheer from the bleachers or grandstand just for yourself,” Bell says in his ads. “You’ve got to be a team player.” US REP. Rashida Tlaib (left) kisses Rep. Cori Bush as...