Oct 3, 2025 minute read

Former Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) is making a play in an attempt to win back the congressional seat she lost in 2024. She made the announcement on social media on Friday.

“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,” Bush posted in a caption with the video announcement.

The “Squad” politician was in Congress for two terms before being unseated by Democrat challenger Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO) in the last election cycle. Bush as well as former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) were two progressive Democrats who lost to more moderate candidates in 2024.

Bush said in the video announcement, “I ran for Congress because I know what it feels like to be a working-class St. Louisan. Too often unseen, unheard, left out.”

Bush then touted different policy positions, and claimed, “Because I spoke truth, they pushed back. Attacked my name, my motives, spread lies and hate. But even after leaving office, when the storms came, I showed up on the ground.”

She went onto say that she ran for political office to “change things for regular people.” The ad targeted President Donald Trump, displaying a number of different negative media reports.

Bell responded to Bush’s comeback bid, writing on social media, “Today my former opponent, Cori Bush, entered the race for Congress. That’s her right, and in our democracy, everyone gets a say. But here’s the simple truth: Missouri voters already rendered their verdict when they voted her out of office last year and chose to move on.”

“St. Louis deserves real results and honest representation, not more headlines or scandals. When it came time to deliver, Cori Bush’s focus wasn’t on our community, but on her own national agenda. That’s why our district was left behind.”

Bush came to prominence as an activist during the Ferguson riots and led 400 days of protests over the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old black man. The officer was not charged because a jury did not determine that he was in violation of Brown’s rights.

Bush later participated in the 2020 BLM movement, was criticized for funneling campaign funds to her husband’s security firm for her own security, and when discussing maternal mortality before Congress, referred to pregnant mothers as “birthing persons.” Her husband was later indicted.