Former Representative Cori Bush (D-Mo.) has launched a campaign to reclaim her old congressional seat, claiming she brought “billions of dollars” back to Missouri’s 1st Congressional District during her time in office. However, a closer examination of the facts reveals a starkly different picture.
While campaigning in May 2024, Bush boasted about delivering “over $2 BILLION and counting” to her constituents. Just a month earlier, on March 28, 2024, her campaign had stated a figure of $41 million in “community project funding since 2021.” The abrupt leap from $41 million to $2 billion raises questions. As of now, Bush’s campaign has not provided an explanation for this dramatic increase—a staggering 4,778% surge that certainly demands scrutiny.
Documentation from federal contract and grant records indicates that most of the funding Bush referenced originates from the Departments of Defense and Justice. Notably, between February 2021 and May 2024, her district saw approximately $48.8 million in Defense Department funding designated for research at local universities. Ironically, Bush voted against the National Defense Authorization funding that included these grants.
In fact, the $2 billion figure is misleading. It appears to encompass contracts from the Defense Department, which predominantly went toward missile and military aircraft purchases, as well as drone technology from The Boeing Company. Furthermore, her district received about $6 million in Department of Justice funding for initiatives intended to bolster local police capabilities—a direct contradiction of Bush’s previous calls to “defund the police.”
Bush also opposed former President Joe Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill, which would have directed significant resources to her district. Many of the funds that found their way into Missouri’s 1st District were for programs that contradict Bush’s own progressive platform. Her rhetoric, which often calls for defunding the Pentagon, starkly contrasts with these financial windfall streams.
In her new campaign video, Bush claimed, “St. Louis deserves a leader who is built different… I’ll be that fighter,” positioning herself as an advocate for her community. Yet, after losing her Democratic primary in August 2024 to the more moderate Wesley Bell, the question remains whether this rhetoric can resonate with constituents who perceive her as ineffective.
Brian Romick, president of Democratic Majority for Israel, has openly criticized Bush’s inconsistent fundraising numbers, stating, “Cori Bush lied to her constituents last year… [and] it’s brazen that instead of owning up to it, she just said it again in her launch video.” These comments highlight a broader concern about transparency and accountability in her messaging.
Bush’s past electoral struggles culminate in this latest bid, surrounded by challenges from better-funded and more moderate candidates. Having first entered Congress in November 2020 as part of the so-called “Squad,” Bush quickly garnered attention for her controversial stances. However, her tenure has been marred by a growing perception of her effectiveness—or lack thereof.
Her launch video asserts a commitment to leadership that doesn’t “wait for permission” and goes against wealthy donors. Yet, around her are rising questions fueled by her record and recent defeats. With historical spending against her and her contentious tenure as part of the “Squad,” it remains uncertain if her freshly minted claims will find a warm reception from the electorate.
Bush’s re-entry into the political scene has brought her previous statements and actions into sharper focus. As her campaign unfolds, the scrutiny on her claims, bolstered by public records, will likely influence how voters consider her reliability as a candidate and leader. In a political landscape increasingly wary of exaggeration and misrepresentation, her ability to articulate genuine contributions—backed by facts—will be central to her appeal.
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