ST. LOUIS—U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis trails St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell in the first independent polling done since Bush confirmed her campaign was under federal investigation for its spending on security.

The Remington Research Group poll, commissioned by Missouri Scout, a political newsletter, asked 401 likely Democratic primary voters who they would support if the election were held today and the candidates were Bush, Bell, or former state lawmaker Maria Chapelle-Nadal, who entered the race last week.

Bell received 50%, while Bush came in at 28% and Chappelle-Nadal had 4%, with 18% undecided. The poll, conducted Feb. 7-9 had a margin of error of 4.9%. 

Bush has faced criticism over her calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas following Israel’s response to the October terror attacks. Her use of campaign donations to fund security drew an ethics complaint that has already been cleared by a House committee.

She has defended her campaign’s spending on security, including on funds paid to her husband, as being at or below a fair market rate.

The polling also comes as Bell has landed an important endorsement from the American Israel Political Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. A spokesperson for the organization told The New York Times Monday that it was backing Bell's campaign. Pro-Israeli groups have gone on record as saying they plan to focus on defeating members members of "The Squad", like Bush, who have been vocally critical of Israel's response to the October attacks.

While AIPAC is supporting other Democrats this cycle, Bush told the paper that she's being targeted for supporting abortion rights, gun violence bills and tax reforms that would penalize AIPAC's billionaire donors.

Bell's campaign did not respond to a request for comment about the endorsement.

Filing for the Aug. 6 primary opens Feb. 27 and closes March 26. 

The winner of the Democratic primary will be a heavy favorite to win in November in the district that spans the city of St. Louis, north St. Louis County and parts west reaching to Ollivette.

Republican Andrew Jones, Jr., who ran for the seat in 2022, is a declared candidate again for 2024.