Former Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) announced Friday that she is attempting a political comeback after losing her congressional seat in the 2024 primary.
Bush is declaring a new congressional bid more than a year after being ousted by a more moderate Democrat challenger.
“St. Louis deserves a leader who is built different,” Bush said in a campaign launch video posted to social media.
“That’s why I’m running to represent Missouri’s 1st District in Congress.
“We need a fighter who will lower costs, protect our communities, and make life fairer. I’ll be that fighter.”
St. Louis deserves a leader who is built different. That’s why I’m running to represent Missouri’s 1st District in Congress.
We need a fighter who will lower costs, protect our communities, and make life fairer. I’ll be that fighter.
Join us: https://t.co/9T0EkpWvIL pic.twitter.com/TzONoSX5FC
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) October 3, 2025
Bush, a member of the progressive “Squad” of House Democrats, was ousted in August 2024 by Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO).
Bell was a St. Louis County prosecutor who ran as a moderate and benefited from millions in spending from pro-Israel groups that targeted Bush over her foreign policy stances.
“I ran for Congress to change things for regular people,” Bush said.
“I’m running again because St. Louis deserves leadership that doesn’t wait for permission, doesn’t answer to wealthy donors, and doesn’t hide when things get tough.”
Bush, a former Black Lives Matter leader, was first elected in 2020.
The radical Democrat quickly became one of the most prominent progressive voices in Washington alongside Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).
She won re-election in 2022 but became the second Squad member to lose her seat last year after Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) also fell to a moderate Democrat backed by pro-Israel groups.
Like Bowman, Bush repeatedly clashed with fellow Democrats over her criticism of Israel.
She described Israel’s response to Hamas’ October 7 terror attack as a “war crime” and accused the Jewish state of carrying out “collective punishment against Palestinians.”
“All across America, we see it,” Bush said in her video.
“Our rights rolled back, our history being rewritten, our lives on the line.
“The stakes for our community here have never been higher.
“I’m running because our district deserves someone ten toes down.
“For our families, for our wallets, for our safety, for our democracy, and for our bright future.
“St. Louis is built different, so am I, and so are we.”
Bush had hinted at a possible comeback soon after President Donald Trump won re-election in 2024.
Speaking to Politico, she insisted the Squad would continue its agenda despite shrinking numbers.
“The Squad will keep fighting,” she said.
“The numbers will be lower for the 119th Congress, but they will keep fighting for people who have the greatest need.
“They’re not going to change their priorities and what they believe.
“The number of people in Congress on the team will just be smaller.
“But they’ve never been silent.
“Anyone who underestimates our power is severely mistaken, because we aren’t going anywhere, and I will always be Squad. I’m not going far.”
Her new campaign comes as Republicans consolidate political power after sweeping victories in 2024.
With the GOP controlling the White House and Congress, the midterms are shaping up as a referendum on President Trump’s second-term agenda.
Republicans have also scored wins in redistricting battles, picking up multiple conservative-leaning seats in Texas and one new seat in Missouri. Gov. Mike Kehoe (R-MO) signed the state’s updated map into law on Sunday.
Bush’s announcement signals that, despite setbacks, progressive Democrats are still looking to mount challenges from the Left, even as the political landscape has shifted sharply to the Right.
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