Former Rep. Cori Bush is facing new scrutiny in her bid to reclaim Missouri’s 1st Congressional District after questions emerged about money raised for tornado relief through an organization that appears to have little publicly available financial reporting. The issue has become a flashpoint in the Democratic primary as Bush has repeatedly declined to answer detailed questions about the organization, saying she cannot discuss it.
The controversy centers on Politivist Power, an organization Bush promoted following the devastating St. Louis-area tornadoes earlier this year. In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, Bush sent fundraising emails urging supporters to contribute to tornado relief efforts through the organization. According to KSDK’s investigation, the emails assured donors that the funds would help those impacted by the storms while also noting that contributions were not affiliated with Bush’s former campaign committee or Politivist Action PAC.
However, KSDK reported that it could not locate a publicly available IRS Form 990 for Politivist Power, the annual tax filing typically required for most nonprofit organizations. Reporters also said they were unable to determine how much money had been raised or how the funds had ultimately been spent because the organization has not publicly disclosed that information.
The television station said it submitted written questions to Bush’s campaign nearly a week before publishing its report, seeking basic details including how much money had been collected, how much had been distributed to tornado victims, and whether any funds remained. According to the report, those questions went unanswered before publication.
WATCH:
🚨 HOLY SMOKES. Former Democrat Rep. and current Congressional candidate Cori Bush is now under investigation by the Missouri Attorney General for allegedly FUNNELING charity donations for a devastating tornado “nonprofit” for POLITICAL SPENDING
🤯🤯
AG HANAWAY: “Very… pic.twitter.com/nhJ6LYB2bZ
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 16, 2026
The issue resurfaced this week when Bush appeared at a campaign event after receiving a labor endorsement. During that appearance, KSDK reporter Mark Maxwell again attempted to ask Bush about the tornado relief organization. Bush repeatedly declined to discuss the matter.
Bush responded by saying the organization was “a PAC that I cannot speak to as a candidate,” and continued to refuse additional questions regarding the fundraising effort. The exchange ended without Bush providing information about the amount raised or how the donations had been used.
The controversy has quickly become a campaign issue as Bush seeks to defeat incumbent Rep. Wesley Bell in the Democratic primary. Bell’s campaign has seized on the report, arguing that donors and voters deserve greater transparency regarding the tornado relief fundraising effort. Bell’s campaign has circulated the KSDK investigation and publicly questioned where the money went, though Bush has not responded to those specific accusations.
Bush, a former member of the progressive “Squad,” represented Missouri’s 1st Congressional District from 2021 until early 2025 after losing the 2024 Democratic primary to Bell. She announced a comeback campaign last year in an effort to win back her former seat, setting up a closely watched rematch between the two Democrats.
The latest controversy comes as Bush is already campaigning under increased scrutiny. During her final term in Congress, she acknowledged that federal authorities were reviewing campaign spending related to security expenses, although Bush maintained she had done nothing wrong. That matter is separate from the questions surrounding the tornado relief fundraising effort.
