Black lives matter activist, Cori Bush, who was at one time homeless, defeated longtime Rep. William Lacy Clay in Missouri’s Democratic primary on Tuesday, August 4, according to CBS News.
Bush, who helped lead protests in Ferguson after a White police officer shot Black teenager, 18-year-old Michael Brown, won the Democratic primary against Rep. Clay two years after losing to him.
“They counted us out,” she said. “They called me–I’m just the protester, I’m just the activist with no name, no title, and no real money. That’s all they said that I was. But St. Louis showed up today.”
With her victory, Bush is essentially guaranteed a seat representing a largely Democratic district. If all goes according to plan, she will be the first female representative for the House district, as well as the first Black woman to win the seat.
“This is a huge upset and another groundbreaking win for our movement against a corporate-backed political dynasty,” said Alexandra Rojas, executive director of the progressive group Justice Democrats told Roll Call. “Cori is the fifth challenger backed by Justice Democrats to unseat an incumbent. She organized a movement through pepper spray and rioting police in the streets of Ferguson.”
Bush, who had benefited from $100,000 in outside spending from Justice Democrats in the week before the election, had befriended Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during her first campaign against Clay, who also received support from Justice Democrats when she scored her primary upset in New York in 2016.
Justice Democrats, along with help from progressive leaders like Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, helped newcomer Jamaal Bowman win his primary battle against longtime Democratic Rep. Eliot L. Engel in New York’s 16th District in June.
Missouri’s 1st Congressional District had been represented by Clay’s father, Bill, for 32 years. When the elder Clay retired, William Lacy won the seat in 2000.
