Wesley Bell
{{Short description|American attorney (born 1974)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Wesley Bell
| image = Rep. Wesley Bell Official Portrait.jpg
| alt = Official House portrait of Bell smiling in front of the U.S. flag, wearing a black suit, white shirt, and light green plaid tie.
| state = Missouri
| district = {{ushr|MO|1|1st}}
| term_start = January 3, 2025
| term_end =
| predecessor = Cori Bush
| successor =
| office1 = Prosecuting Attorney of St. Louis County
| term_start1 = January 1, 2019
| term_end1 = January 3, 2025
| predecessor1 = Bob McCulloch
| successor1 = Melissa Price Smith
| birth_name = Wesley Jonell-Cleavon Bell
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|11|5}}
| birth_place = St. Louis County, Missouri, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| education = {{ubl |Lindenwood University (BA) |University of Missouri (JD)}}
| website = {{url|bell.house.gov|House website}}
}}
Wesley Jonell-Cleavon Bell{{Cite web |title=Rep. Wesley Bell - D Missouri, 1st - Biography |url=https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/471890/Wesley_Jonell_Cleavon_Bell.html |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=LegiStorm |language=en}} (born November 5, 1974){{Cite tweet|number=1059536909247094785 |user=wesleybell4stl |title=Today is Wesley's birthday! 🎉🎈🎂 He needs your helping to make his birthday wish come true. Watch to hear how. @clairecmc @McCaskill4MO @nicolergalloway @cortvo |date=November 5, 2018 |access-date=February 2, 2023}} is an American attorney and politician serving as the U.S. representative for {{ushr|MO|1}} since 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County, Missouri, from 2019 to 2025.{{cite news |last=Jordan |first=Sandra |date=November 6, 2018 |title=Victory night for Wesley Bell, former Ferguson councilman makes history as first black St. Louis County Prosecutor |url=http://www.stlamerican.com/news/local_news/victory-night-for-wesley-bell-former-ferguson-councilman-makes-history/article_40e7f5ca-e24a-11e8-b793-83813ee3637c.html |newspaper=St. Louis American |language=en-US}}
In a major upset, he defeated long-time yet controversial county prosecutor Bob McCulloch in the August 2018 Democratic primary election,{{cite news |last=Ferner |first=Matt |date=August 7, 2018 |title=St. Louis Voters Oust Prosecutor Who Didn't Bring Charges In Cop Killing Of Michael Brown |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/wesley-bell-robert-mcculloch-st-louis-prosecutor_us_5b6a0719e4b0fd5c73de8c1c |work=HuffPost |language=en-US |access-date=August 28, 2018 }} and became the first Black county prosecuting attorney in St. Louis County history when he took office in January 2019.{{cite news |last=Levitz |first=Eric |title=Progressive Reformer Ousts St. Louis Prosecutor Who Didn't Charge Cop in Michael Brown Case |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/08/st-louis-election-prosecutor-wesley-bell-beats-bob-mcculloch-michael-brown-ferguson.html |work=Intelligencer |date=August 8, 2018 |access-date=August 28, 2018 }} On June 7, 2023, Bell announced his candidacy in the 2024 United States Senate election in Missouri.{{cite news|last=Hancock|first=Jason|date=June 7, 2023|url=https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/07/st-louis-county-prosecutor-wesley-bell-enters-missouris-u-s-senate-race/|title=St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell enters Missouri's U.S. Senate race|work=Missouri Independent}} In October 2023, he instead opted to run for the U.S. House seat of Missouri's 1st congressional district, defeating incumbent Cori Bush in the Democratic primary in August 2024 and winning the general election in November.{{Cite web |last1=Byers |first1=Christine |last2=Maxwell |first2=Mark |date=October 30, 2023 |title=Wesley Bell announces run against Cori Bush for Congress |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/politics/wesley-bell-run-against-cori-bush-congress-st-louis/63-452e384a-fa46-4bfe-9f40-76a03d5ab279 |website=KSDK |language=en-US |access-date=October 30, 2023}}{{Cite news |date=2024-08-06 |title=Missouri 1st Congressional District Primary Election Results |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/08/06/us/elections/results-missouri-us-house-1-primary.html |access-date=2024-08-07 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |date=2024-11-05 |title=Missouri First Congressional District Election Results |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/05/us/elections/results-missouri-us-house-1.html |access-date=2025-01-07 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
Early life and education
Bell was raised in northern St. Louis County, Missouri. He is the son of a police officer father and civil servant mother. Bell is a graduate of Hazelwood East High School, Lindenwood University, and University of Missouri School of Law.{{cite news | last1 = Allen | first1 = Ron | last2= Noble Jones |first2=Brittany |date=August 10, 2018 |title=Game changer: Wesley Bell ousts Bob McCulloch for prosecutor in St. Louis County |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/game-changer-wesley-bell-ousts-bob-mcculloch-prosecuting-attorney-stl-n899671 |website=NBC News |language=en-US |access-date = August 28, 2018}}
Early career
File:Wesley Bell 2014 - edit2.jpg
After graduating from law school, Bell worked as a St. Louis County public defender. He later joined the faculty of Florissant Valley Community College as a professor in the criminology department. Additionally, he also was appointed to be a municipal court judge in Velda City and municipal prosecutor in Riverview. While working as a municipal judge in Velda City, Bell was sued by Arch City Defenders, a local nonprofit, for his role in Velda City's cash bail system.{{Cite web |last1=Reilly |first1=Ryan J. |last2=Stewart |first2=Mariah |date=April 6, 2015 |title=Judge In Tiny City Facing Lawsuit Over Its 'Illegal' Bail System Is Running For Ferguson City Council |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/velda-city-ferguson-wesley-bell-st-louis-county-municipal-courts_n_7012100 |website=HuffPost |language=en-US |access-date=September 3, 2020}}
In 2006, Bell managed the campaign of Mark J. Byrne, a Republican candidate challenging Lacy Clay's seat in Missouri's 1st congressional district. Byrne ran on a conservative platform, including strong opposition to abortion. Byrne described Bell's participation in the campaign as a "friendly favor," saying that Bell did his best to help Byrne win despite their different political views.{{Cite web |last=Redden |first=Molly |date=2024-06-20 |title=He's Running As A Progressive Democrat — But Has A Hidden GOP Past |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wesley-bell-republican-campaign-manag_n_66747f65e4b069d92e24ad5e |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}
In 2015, following the Ferguson Protests, Bell was elected to Ferguson city council, beating out Lee Smith, a first time candidate popular among Ferguson protestors.{{Cite web |last=Deere |first=Stephen |date=2015-05-08 |title=Losing Ferguson council candidates in spat with campaign manager |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/losing-ferguson-council-candidates-in-spat-with-campaign-manager/article_a5377f69-0c39-514c-94bd-4ac1ba99093e.html |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=STLtoday.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Deere |first=Stephen |date=2015-04-08 |title=High voter turnout in Ferguson adds two black council members, for three total |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/high-voter-turnout-in-ferguson-adds-two-black-council-members-for-three-total/article_422cb33f-c172-53de-a0c8-29386630ec72.html |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=STLtoday.com |language=en}}
In 2018, Bell entered the race for county prosecutor. He ran on a platform of community based policing, assigning special prosecutors in homicides by police, pledging to never seek the death penalty, reforming cash bail/bond, and other progressive points. He received significant support from local and national activists and advocacy groups.{{cite news |last=Stockman |first=Farah |date=August 8, 2018 |title=In Ferguson, a New Prosecutor 'Gives Us Hope' 4 Years After Shooting |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/us/ferguson-prosecutor-wesley-bell.html |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |access-date=August 18, 2018 }} The election was also seen as a referendum on incumbent Bob McCulloch, for his decision not to prosecute the white police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown.
= County prosecutor =
In his first hours in office, Bell ordered his assistant prosecutors not to prosecute marijuana cases under 100 grams without evidence of distribution of the drug; however, he still prosecuted marijuana cases where the person possessing the marijuana is armed with a weapon. His office stopped seeking warrants on cases that solely involve the possession of marijuana.{{cite news |last1=Wicentowski |first1=Danny |date=January 14, 2019 |title=St. Louis County will stop prosecuting marijuana possession under 100 grams |url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2019/01/14/st-louis-county-will-stop-prosecuting-marijuana-possession-under-100-grams |work=The Riverfront Times |access-date=February 22, 2020 |archive-date=February 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222174347/https://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2019/01/14/st-louis-county-will-stop-prosecuting-marijuana-possession-under-100-grams |url-status=dead }} Additionally, during his first days in office Bell elected to stop prosecuting criminal child support cases.{{cite news |last1=Long |first1=Jacob |date=January 4, 2019 |title=Top staffer for Wesley Bell owes ex-wife thousands in back due child support |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/top-staffer-for-wesley-bell-owes-ex-wife-thousands-in-back-due-child-support/63-31842dc0-6c99-40ea-924f-eb6939782af5 |website=KSDK |language=en-US}}
Bell was confronted in 2020 with a case from 2018, in which a resident of Jefferson County, Missouri, killed a woman.{{cite news |last1=Byers |first1=Christine |last2=Benchaabane |first2=Nassim |last3=Hollinshed |first3=Denise |last4=Holleman |first4=Joe |date=November 22, 2018 |title=Jefferson County man charged with murder, sex crimes in Catholic Supply store attack |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/jefferson-county-man-charged-with-murder-sex-crimes-in-catholic/article_c268bfa9-6984-5a4c-b427-98b5b9265ae3.html |work=St. Louis Post Dispatch |language=en-US}} There was a major public outcry for Bell to seek https://www.newsweek.com/navy-vet-pleads-guilty-sexually-assaulting-2-women-killing-another-catholic-store-1641839 the death penalty for Thomas Bruce,{{who?|date=August 2024}} but Bell refused, keeping his campaign promise.{{cite web |last1=Long |first1=Jacob |last2=Cole |first2=Ashley |title=Wesley Bell won't seek death penalty in Catholic Supply murder |date=January 11, 2019 |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/wesley-bell-wont-seek-death-penalty-in-catholic-supply-murder/63-c4693b1f-436e-4370-9399-5c7d1b8851c8 |publisher=KSDK |accessdate=February 8, 2020}} Former St. Louis police chief Tim Fitch urged Bell to turn the case over to federal prosecutors so that they could seek the death penalty. However, the family of the victim supported Bell's decision not to seek the death penalty.{{cite news |last1=Byers |first1=Christine |title=Death penalty should be on the table for Catholic Supply killer, former police chief says |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/death-penalty-should-be-on-the-table-for-catholic-supply/article_8bdaba99-095a-51cd-bd0d-eb1c3a399638.html |accessdate=February 22, 2020 |publisher=The St. Louis Post Dispatch |date=November 28, 2018}}
Bell reopened the investigation into the killing of Michael Brown in early 2020, and decided not to file any charges against the white officer. Bell ultimately concluded, like his predecessor Bob McCulloch and the United States Department of Justice, that there was not probable cause to criminally charge Darren Wilson.{{Cite web |last=Currier |first=Joel |title=St. Louis County prosecutor reopened Michael Brown shooting case but won't charge Darren Wilson|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/st-louis-county-prosecutor-reopened-michael-brown-shooting-case-but-wont-charge-darren-wilson/article_8e537a12-4dd0-51d8-a325-11ba7dddd20e.html |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=July 31, 2020 |language=en-US |access-date=August 20, 2020}} The decision was met with anger from Michael Brown's family who accused Bell of conducting an incomplete investigation.{{Cite web |last=King |first=Chris |date= July 30, 2020|title=Lezley McSpadden says Wesley Bell did not do a 'proper investigation' |url=http://www.stlamerican.com/news/local_news/lezley-mcspadden-says-wesley-bell-did-not-do-a-proper-investigation/article_dee3e78a-d2d4-11ea-99cc-870d5adf45b2.html |website=St. Louis American |language=en-US |access-date=August 20, 2020}} In response to these accusations, Bell stated that his department "relied heavily on the evidence uncovered by the Department of Justice, an investigation that was extraordinarily comprehensive and included interviews of every significant witness and its own forensic examinations." This Obama-era DOJ investigation which Mr. Bell cites concluded, like both Mr. Bell and his predecessor, that the officer should not be held responsible for the death of Michael Brown.
In 2024, Bell asked to vacate the murder conviction of Marcellus Williams on the basis of “clear and convincing evidence” of Williams's innocence. Williams was previously scheduled for execution in 2017, spared by a last minute stay by Eric Greitens, who appointed a board of inquiry later dissolved by Mike Parson.{{Cite web |last=Van Amburg |first=Lisa |date=2024-06-28 |title=St. Louis County prosecutor thinks Marcellus Williams is innocent. He's still set to be executed |url=https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/28/st-louis-county-prosecutor-thinks-marcellus-williams-is-innocent-hes-still-set-to-be-executed/ |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=Missouri Independent |language=en-US}}
Following the ten year commemoration of the killing of Michael Brown, Bell pressed felony charges on at least eight protestors in Ferguson. A police officer suffered brain injuries following a fall, however protest organizers say that the incident was not caused by the activist charged with assault.{{Cite web |last=Lacy |first=Akela |date=2024-10-03 |title=Wesley Bell’s Swan Song: Felonies for Ferguson Protesters |url=https://theintercept.com/2024/10/03/wesley-bell-ferguson-protesters-cori-bush/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=The Intercept |language=en-US}}
In October 2024, the population of people incarcerated in St. Louis County jail was more than double than in 2022. Bell told a crime commission meeting that they were still working on backlog from COVID-19 and that judges were tired of seeing the same people come into courts.{{Cite web |last=Landis |first=Kelsey |date=2024-10-25 |title=St. Louis County jail numbers skyrocket. Officials consider more supervised release |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/st-louis-county-jail-numbers-skyrocket-officials-consider-more-supervised-release/article_d5c1a3fa-9228-11ef-b409-cf571bf3fcda.html |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=STLtoday.com |language=en}}
In late 2024, Bell accused a county councilman of nepotism due to his step-daughter's temporary position as clerk. Documentation was provided to show that she had not received payment, however Bell further accused her of falsifying documents in a felony charge of forgery. In 2025, the incoming prosecutor dismissed the charges.{{Cite web |last=Fong |first=Jonathan |last2=Maxwell |first2=Mark |date=January 3, 2025 |title=New St. Louis County prosecutor dismisses charges against county clerk in nepotism case |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2025/01/03/new-prosecutor-drops-charges-st-louis-county-clerk.html |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=St. Louis Business Journal}}
==Gender discrimination lawsuit==
On October 29, 2020, Susan Petersen, one of Bell's assistant prosecutors, filed a lawsuit under Missouri's Human Rights Act claiming that Bell had fired her and forced out five other female attorneys in favor of male employees. The lawsuit further alleged that Bell had created a hostile work environment for female attorneys at the office. Bell responded by claiming that the prosecutor's attorney was irresponsibly and unethically attempting to litigate her case in the media.{{Cite web|last=Currier|first=Joel|title=Former prosecutor accuses Wesley Bell of racial, gender and age discrimination|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/former-prosecutor-accuses-wesley-bell-of-racial-gender-and-age-discrimination/article_8df1057b-4d8b-5622-8ffd-fa21a5a62216.html|access-date=October 30, 2020|website=STLtoday.com|date=October 29, 2020 |language=en}}
On June 27, 2024, circuit Judge Bruce F. Hilton ruled that Bell would have to answer deposition questions about sexual relations occurring between a supervisor and multiple subordinates in Bell’s office and denied the county’s motion to delay the Petersen trial.{{Cite web|last=Holleman|first=Joe|title=Holleman: Wesley Bell dogged by questions about hiring and firing practices|url=https://archive.today/20240321113602/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/column/joe-holleman/holleman-wesley-bell-dogged-by-questions-about-hiring-and-firing-practices/article_c9e19ff8-e630-11ee-a886-4321bb861479.html|access-date=June 27, 2024|website=STLtoday.com|date=June 27, 2024 |language=en}} The jury trial was rescheduled for January 27, 2025.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-12 |title=Trial delayed on discrimination lawsuit against Wesley Bell |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/column/joe-holleman/trial-delayed-on-discrimination-lawsuit-against-wesley-bell/article_2d9ec422-f8f0-11ee-bf22-5b60aea21f02.html |access-date=2024-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412194956/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/column/joe-holleman/trial-delayed-on-discrimination-lawsuit-against-wesley-bell/article_2d9ec422-f8f0-11ee-bf22-5b60aea21f02.html |archive-date=April 12, 2024 }}
On January 24, 2025, a settlement was reached in the case, with St. Louis County agreeing to pay Petersen $500,000.{{cite web|title=St. Louis County settles discrimination claims aimed at former PA Wesley Bell with $500K payout|url=https://www.firstalert4.com/2025/01/25/st-louis-county-settles-discrimination-claims-aimed-former-pa-wesley-bell-with-500k-payout/#}}
==Use of government resources==
Bell was criticized for his use of government resources while in office. In June 2019, KSDK, a local news outlet, reported that Bell had amassed nearly $800 in parking tickets though he was provided with a parking space.{{cite news |last1=Long |first1=Jacob |title=Using taxpayer-funded SUV, Wesley Bell racks up hundreds of dollars in unpaid parking tickets |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/investigations/using-taxpayer-funded-suv-wesley-bell-racks-up-hundreds-of-dollars-in-unpaid-parking-tickets/63-e305950b-0289-46ed-8963-7c178527103c |accessdate=February 22, 2020 |publisher=KSDK |date=July 15, 2019}} In response, Bell's Chief of Staff informed the public that Bell and other staff members needed their cars adjacent to the office and not parked in the sectioned-off parking spaces—over one block away—because Bell, as a prosecuting attorney, needed both him and his agents to have immediate access to their cars in order to best secure justice for the county of which he was responsible. This Chief of Staff further advised that, for Bell and other employees, they could expect up to seven calls a day that would require them to travel to their car, and each of those seven calls would waste taxpayer dollars if they were to park further away from their office. Bell later paid off the parking tickets using his own money.{{cite news |last1=Long |first1=Jacob |date=August 7, 2019 |title=Wesley Bell surrenders fight to avoid paying hundreds of dollars in parking tickets on government-funded SUV |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/wesley-bell-surrenders-fight-to-avoid-paying-hundreds-of-dollars-in-parking-tickets-on-government-funded-suv/63-4850b1c8-af7d-4eea-a307-c57ad5fed8f9 |accessdate=February 22, 2020 |publisher=KSDK}}
In October 2019, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch conducted an investigation into Bell's expenditures during the first ten months in office. The investigation uncovered that Bell had spent over $30,000 in government funds on travel and food during his first ten months in office. This included an $816 dinner at an expensive Miami steakhouse and a $300 meal at a Lake of the Ozarks steakhouse. In response, Bell informed the Dispatch that he repaid the Miami dinner immediately and refused to charge his office for any additional expenditures. Bell did not comment on the Ozarks meal directly, but informed the Post-Dispatch that, while he needed to get in the good graces of local law enforcement to perform his duties as prosecutor, Bell recognizes that the meal wasn't a common expense during the previous prosecutor's long tenure. However, Bell noted that he had to simultaneously work with the police and hold them to a higher standard, justifying the expense. Furthermore, the Post-Dispatch also reported on Bell's efforts to hide details of his spending, such as omitting thousands of dollars of charges from requested records, charging the Post to provide requested documents, reimbursing expenditures only after records requests for those expenditures were made, and being nonresponsive to sunshine requests.{{cite news |last1=The Post Dispatch Editorial Board |title=Editorial: Bell's lavish meals, travel aren't a good fit for a self-proclaimed reformer. |url=https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-bell-s-lavish-meals-travel-aren-t-a-good/article_4f1dfc7a-2184-5986-911e-32c159bebeed.html |accessdate=February 22, 2020 |publisher=The St Louis Post Dispatch |date=October 27, 2019}} Under pressure from his supporters, Bell ultimately apologized citing the actions as "missteps" and vowed to spend taxpayer money more appropriately in the future.{{cite news |last1=The St. Louis American Editorial Board |title=Wesley Bell needs to clean up the mess he made |url=http://www.stlamerican.com/news/editorials/wesley-bell-needs-to-clean-up-the-mess-he-made/article_ecd8da0e-fb8d-11e9-a0e5-e72d14425feb.html |accessdate=February 22, 2020 |publisher=The St. Louis American |date=October 31, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Bell |first1=Wesley |title=I cannot allow my missteps to undermine our mission |url=http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/guest_columnists/i-cannot-allow-my-missteps-to-undermine-our-mission/article_eaa0a79e-fff7-11e9-b043-1fe83045f236.html |accessdate=February 22, 2020 |publisher=The St. Louis American |date=November 5, 2019}}
U.S. House of Representatives
= Elections =
== 2024 ==
{{Main articles|2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri#District 1}}
In 2023, Bell announced a challenge to Josh Hawley for the U.S. Senate, in which he polled higher than fellow Democratic candidate Lucas Kunce.{{Cite news |last1=Desrochers |first1=Daniel |last2=Bayless |first2=Kacen |date=October 19, 2023 |title=Hawley talks a big game on worker rights amid union strike. Do his votes match up? |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article280706255.html#storylink=cpy |work=Kansas City Star}} In late October 2023, he dropped out from the Senate race to challenge fellow Democrat Cori Bush for Missouri's 1st congressional district seat. Leaked audio confirmed that Bell previously told Bush he would not run against her.{{Cite web |last=Grim |first=Ryan |title=Leaked Audio: "I'm NOT Running Against You," Cori Bush's Primary Challenger Told Her Months Before Running Against Her |url=https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/leaked-audio-im-not-running-against |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.dropsitenews.com |language=en}} Bell told Bush, "I'm telling you on my word I am not running against you."{{Cite web |date=2024-07-29 |title=Leaked audio reveals Wesley Bell told Cori Bush he wouldn't run against her, she offered to endorse him |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/leaked-audio-reveals-wesley-bell-told-cori-bush-he-wouldnt-run-against-her-she-offered-to-endorse-him/63-33948f94-4ca4-4bd2-9f1b-61cdb24dfd05 |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=ksdk.com |language=en-US}}
Politico reported that the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC earmarked over $800,000 for Bell's campaign as of April 30, 2024.{{Cite news |last1=Piper |first1=Jessica |last2=Fuchs |first2=Hailey |date=June 9, 2024 |title=Bipartisanship or Republican meddling? AIPAC is biggest source of GOP donations in Dem primaries |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/09/aipac-republican-donors-democratic-primaries-00162404 |work=Politico}} Campaign ads were funded by AIPAC's spending arm, United Democracy Project.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-02 |title=First Alert 4 Fact Check: Cori Bush's attack ad against Wesley Bell |url=https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/07/02/first-alert-4-fact-check-cori-bushs-attack-ad-against-wesley-bell/ |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=First Alert 4 |language=en}} By May 2024, Bell had raised more than $65,000 from donors who also gave to one of Missouri’s two Republican senators, Hawley and Eric Schmitt, in their most recent campaigns, and Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, the leading Republican candidate for governor.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-07 |title=Prosecutor Challenging A 'Squad' Member Is Raising Big Bucks — From Republicans |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wesley-bell-republican-donors_n_663926c9e4b001bbb5107931 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=HuffPost |language=en}} Bell also received additional support and campaign financing from conservatives and Republicans.{{cite news |last=Redden |first=Molly |title=Rep. Cori Bush's Democratic Challenger Is Raising Big Bucks — From Republicans|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wesley-bell-republican-donors_n_663926c9e4b001bbb5107931|work=Huffington Post|date=May 7, 2024|access-date=August 6, 2024}} In addition, the Democratic Majority for Israel spent large amounts of money to support his campaign and defeat Bush.{{cite web | title=St. Louis Chief Prosecutor Wesley Bell beats incumbent 'squad' member Cori Bush in Dem. primary | website= The Jerusalem Post | date=2024-08-07 | url=https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-813638 | access-date=2024-08-07}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-06 |title=Wesley Bell defeats 'Squad' member Cori Bush. A pro-Israel group spent $8.5 million to help oust her |url=https://apnews.com/article/missouri-congress-election-bush-bell-f507703334e182528489ca078bc5ce70 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=AP News |language=en}}
On July 25, 2024, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which had previously been critical of Bell, endorsed him.{{Cite web |date=August 2020 |title=Editorial: New investigation, same disappointing result for Michael Brown's family |url=https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-new-investigation-same-disappointing-result-for-michael-browns-family/article_5701d147-4932-5279-b693-35a8aec2ac1b.html |access-date=August 20, 2020 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |language=en-US}}{{cite news |date=July 25, 2024 |title=Editorial: Bell has our enthusiastic endorsement for Missouri's 1st Congressional District |url=https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-bell-has-our-enthusiastic-endorsement-for-missouris-1st-congressional-district/article_12bfdf10-49d1-11ef-a40e-bfbdccc81938.html |accessdate=July 29, 2024 |publisher=St Louis Dispatch}} Bell defeated Bush in the primary and ultimately won the general election.
=Committee assignments=
Electoral history
= 2024 =
{{Election box begin no change|title=Missouri 1st Congressional District Democratic Primary, 2024{{Cite web |url=https://enr.sos.mo.gov/ |title=State of Missouri – Election Night Results |publisher=Missouri Secretary of State |access-date=August 6, 2024}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Wesley Bell|votes=63,340|percentage=51.2}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Cori Bush (incumbent)|votes=56,492|percentage=45.6}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Maria Chappelle-Nadal|votes=3,257|percentage=2.6}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Ron Harshaw|votes=730|percentage=0.6}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=123,819|percentage=100.0}}
{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change|title=2024 Missouri's 1st congressional district election}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Wesley Bell|votes=233,312|percentage=75.9}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Andrew Jones|votes=56,453|percentage=18.4}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Rochelle Riggins|votes=10,070|percentage=3.3}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Green Party of the United States|candidate=Don Fitz|votes=5,151|percentage=1.7}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change|party=Better Party|candidate=Blake Ashby|votes=2,279|percentage=0.7}}{{Election box total no change|votes=307,265|percentage=100.0}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- {{url|bell4mo.com|Campaign website}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Cori Bush}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 1st congressional district|years=2025–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=Nick Begich III}}
{{s-ttl|title=United States representatives by seniority|years=377th}}
{{s-aft|after=Sheri Biggs}}
{{s-end}}
{{MO-FedRep}}
{{Current members of the U.S. House of Representatives}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=119th–present United States Congress |state=Missouri}}
{{USCongRep/MO/119}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Wesley}}
Category:20th-century African-American lawyers
Category:21st-century African-American lawyers
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:21st-century Missouri politicians
Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives
Category:African-American members of the United States House of Representatives
Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri
Category:District attorneys in Missouri
Category:Killing of Michael Brown
Category:Lawyers from St. Louis
Category:Lindenwood University alumni