Key facts
- Wesley Bell won the Missouri Democratic primary, defeating incumbent Congresswoman Cori Bush.
- Bell advocated for strong support for Israel and was backed by AIPAC.
- Bush was a vocal advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and made the conflict central to her campaign.
- Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic primary for an open Senate seat in Michigan.
- Mark Warner won the Democratic primary in Virginia, emphasizing national security and support for Israel.
- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez won her Democratic primary in Washington, endorsed by AIPAC.
Wesley Bell has won the Missouri Democratic primary, defeating incumbent Congresswoman Cori Bush. Bell, a former St. Louis County prosecutor, secured 59.2 percent of the vote compared to Bush's 36.9 percent, denying her a return to Congress after her defeat in 2024.
Bush had made her criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza and the US's foreign policy a central theme of her campaign. Bell, conversely, advocated for strong support for Israel and received backing from AIPAC. The race was seen as a test of progressive versus establishment candidates within the Democratic Party.
In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed defeated Congresswoman Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary for an open Senate seat, with El-Sayed securing 48.5 percent of the vote to Stevens' 47.5 percent. El-Sayed's campaign focused on progressive stances on healthcare, immigration, and foreign policy, including a promise to vote to end military aid to Israel.
Elsewhere, incumbent Senator Mark Warner won the Democratic primary in Virginia, emphasizing his national security credentials and support for Israel. In Washington, Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez fended off a progressive challenger, also receiving endorsement from AIPAC.