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Wesley Bell


Wesley Bell (born November 5, 1974) is an attorney and politician serving as the U.S. representative for since January 2025. A , he previously held the position of St. Louis County prosecuting from 2019 to 2025, leading Missouri's largest prosecutorial office. Born and raised in North St. Louis County in a union household—son of a and a county civil servant—Bell graduated from Hazelwood East High School in 1992, earned a from while working multiple jobs, and obtained a from the University of Missouri School of Law. His early career encompassed roles as a in , a municipal in Velda City, a municipal in Riverview, and a at St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley. Following the 2014 shooting of , Bell was elected to the Ferguson City Council in 2015, where he contributed to reforms including the implementation of body cameras for police, enhanced training, officer pay increases, and compliance with a U.S. Department of Justice on policing and courts. In 2018, he achieved a significant upset by defeating longtime incumbent Bob McCulloch in the Democratic primary to become the first African American elected as St. Louis County prosecuting attorney. During his tenure, Bell established specialized units targeting violent crimes, , and auto ; expanded pretrial diversion programs for non-violent offenders achieving a reported 90% success rate; ended the prosecution of low-level marijuana possession; increased transparency through public data on prosecutions; and prioritized holistic public safety measures addressing , , and alongside traditional enforcement. These initiatives reflected his emphasis on accountability, prevention, and reducing without compromising public safety. Bell rose to national attention in 2024 when he defeated two-term U.S. Representative in the Democratic primary for , a contest marked by over $10 million in outside spending, much of it from pro- groups opposing Bush's criticism of Israel's policies and supportive of Bell's more favorable stance toward . He secured the general election in November 2024 against Andrew Jones Jr., winning approximately 76% of the vote in the heavily Democratic . In , Bell has focused on economic issues for working families, , , and affordable healthcare, while continuing to advocate for evidence-based reforms.

Personal background

Early life and family

Wesley Bell was born on November 5, 1974, in St. Louis County, Missouri. He was raised in North St. Louis County in a union household, the son of a police officer father and a county civil servant mother. This family background emphasized values of public service and community involvement from an early age. Bell's extended family included members, such as an uncle who worked with UFCW Local 655 at and later as an electrician with IBEW Local 649 at , reflecting a of labor involvement that shaped his formative years.

Education

Bell earned a degree with a double major in and public management from in 1998. To finance his , he held multiple jobs, including waiting tables at , refereeing youth sports, and working for a phone company. He then pursued legal training at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, receiving his in 2001. This formal education equipped him with the credentials necessary for his subsequent entry into legal practice and public service roles focused on .

Legal and early professional career

Private practice and civic roles

Prior to entering county-level prosecutorial office, Bell maintained a private legal practice focused on criminal defense work for roughly a decade after his admission to the Missouri bar. In this capacity, he operated as an independent attorney, handling cases that underscored his experience across both prosecution and defense perspectives gained from earlier municipal roles. Bell also held non-elected civic positions in Ferguson, Missouri, including service as a municipal prosecutor and as a part-time , roles that provided hands-on involvement in local and amid rising tensions. Following the 2014 police shooting of , he was elected to the Ferguson City Council in 2015, where he prioritized implementing practical reforms stemming from the U.S. Department of Justice's 2015 report on the city's policing and practices. These initiatives targeted inefficiencies such as excessive fines and fees driving revenue over justice, as documented in the DOJ findings, and sought to align local operations with constitutional standards through revised use-of-force policies and oversight mechanisms. Bell's council tenure emphasized data-driven adjustments to reduce and enhance accountability, drawing on St. Louis region's elevated rates—such as Ferguson's homicide figures surpassing 20 annually in the mid-2010s—to advocate for streamlined municipal processes without expanding incarceration.

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney

Wesley Bell served as the prosecuting attorney for , from January 3, 2019, to January 3, 2025. He was the first Black person elected to the position, succeeding Bob McCulloch, who had held the office for 27 years and faced criticism for his handling of the 2014 shooting in Ferguson. During his tenure, Bell emphasized reforms, including diversion programs and reduced reliance on cash bail, while maintaining focus on violent crimes. A 2025 state audit of his office identified administrative shortcomings but no substantial wrongdoing.

Election to office

Bell won the Democratic primary for St. Louis County prosecuting attorney on August 7, 2018, defeating incumbent Bob McCulloch in an upset victory attributed to voter frustration over McCulloch's decisions not to charge in the case and perceived resistance to reform. Bell secured approximately 57% of the vote countywide, building a coalition that included progressives, suburban voters, and those seeking change post-Ferguson. With no opponent, he won the general on November 6, 2018, and took office on January 3, 2019. Bell was reelected on November 8, 2022, defeating challenger Theo Brown with over 75% of the vote after 25% of precincts reported.

Key policies and initiatives

Bell prioritized "smart on crime" approaches, creating specialized units such as a violent crimes unit focused on domestic violence and an auto theft task force to target high-priority offenses. He established a Conviction and Incident Review Unit to investigate potential wrongful convictions and police misconduct, leading to concessions of constitutional errors in cases like that of Marcellus Williams, who was executed in 2024 despite prior mishandlings under McCulloch. Bell declined to seek the death penalty in the 2017 Catholic Supply Store mass shooting case, fulfilling a campaign promise against capital punishment for non-homicide crimes and aligning with broader reform efforts. His office implemented diversion programs for low-level, nonviolent offenses, including first-of-its-kind initiatives to address mental health and substance use, reducing jail populations and prosecutions for marijuana possession. Bell also became the first Missouri prosecutor to publicly refuse pursuing abortion-related cases following the 2022 Dobbs decision.

Criticisms and legal challenges

Critics from racial justice groups argued Bell did not fully deliver on promises for aggressive police accountability, citing slower progress on cases involving officer-involved deaths compared to his campaign rhetoric. Some law enforcement officers alleged a racial bias in charging decisions, particularly given Bell's status as the first Black prosecutor, though no formal investigations substantiated systemic favoritism. A Missouri state audit released in August 2025 examined Bell's tenure and found deficiencies in oversight, timekeeping, and internal controls but uncovered no evidence of major misconduct or financial irregularities. Bell's reforms, including bail reductions, drew scrutiny in academic analyses for potentially exposing limitations in progressive prosecution models amid rising urban crime concerns, though empirical data on St. Louis-specific outcomes remained mixed.

Election to office

In the Democratic primary election for St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney held on August 7, 2018, Wesley Bell defeated seven-term incumbent Robert P. McCulloch, who had served since 1991. Bell secured approximately 57% of the vote, marking a significant upset against the longtime prosecutor criticized for his handling of the 2014 investigation into the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, where no charges were brought against the involved officer. Bell's campaign emphasized criminal justice reforms, including reduced cash bail and diversion programs, appealing to a coalition of reform advocates, suburban voters, and those dissatisfied with McCulloch's tenure amid post-Ferguson tensions. With no candidate on the in the November 6, 2018, —a common occurrence in the heavily Democratic county—Bell won unopposed and assumed office on January 1, 2019. His election made him the first African American to hold the position in County history.

Key policies and initiatives

Upon assuming office on January 1, 2019, Bell implemented policy changes aimed at reducing low-level prosecutions, including ceasing to pursue charges for possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana in any form. His office also ended prosecutions for in court when attributable to inability to afford , as part of broader efforts to address disparities. Bell established specialized prosecutorial units to target specific crimes, including a violent crimes unit focused on cases and an auto theft , while expanding resources for addressing and substance abuse-related offenses. These initiatives sought to prioritize prosecution and improve outcomes for victims through dedicated handling. To divert non-violent offenders from incarceration, Bell expanded pre-charge and post-charge diversion programs, particularly for individuals with issues, , or substance use disorders, emphasizing over punishment. A local diversion advisory committee under his oversight reportedly reduced participant to 3.9%, compared to 45% for traditional processing. In January 2019, he advocated for broader drug diversion expansion to reallocate resources toward serious offenses. Bell's office adopted a policy against seeking the death penalty in eligible cases, citing data showing it does not deter , marking a shift from prior practices in County. He also became the first prosecutor to decline pursuing abortion-related cases post-Roe v. Wade overturn.

Criticisms and legal challenges

Former St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob Romanik criticized Bell's office in October 2021 for prioritizing the hiring of social workers over additional prosecutors, arguing that this contributed to staffing shortages and delayed case processing, as evidenced by Bell's subsequent requests for more prosecutorial resources. A whistleblower alleged in January 2022 that a controversial hiring decision in Bell's office represented a misuse of taxpayer funds and undermined career prosecutors, describing the appointee as unqualified for the role. In July 2024, a coalition of racial justice organizations, including the ArchCity Defenders and MORE², issued a report accusing Bell's office of failing to fulfill campaign promises on progressive reforms, such as reducing cash bail usage and prosecuting fewer low-level offenses, claiming persistent racial disparities in charging decisions and case outcomes. A State Auditor's Office review released on August 5, 2025, examined Bell's tenure from January 2019 to January 2025 and identified procedural deficiencies, including inadequate oversight of employee timekeeping, unmonitored credit card expenditures, and absent policies for handling complaints against staff, though it uncovered no evidence of major financial misconduct or criminal activity and recommended enhanced internal controls. The County Council formally requested a into the prosecuting attorney's office practices during Bell's six-year term on January 7, 2025, citing concerns over operational and raised in preliminary reviews. In October 2020, former assistant Susan Petersen filed a federal lawsuit against County, alleging that Bell discriminated against her on the basis of , , and by denying promotions and reassigning her cases after she raised internal concerns, leading to a $500,000 settlement approved by the county in January 2025 without admission of liability.

Path to federal office

Initial Senate candidacy

On June 7, 2023, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 2024 U.S. election in , aiming to challenge incumbent Republican Senator . Bell positioned himself as a pragmatic Democrat drawing on his 2018 upset victory over a seven-term establishment incumbent, emphasizing his prosecutorial reforms implemented after the 2014 , including halting prosecutions for low-level drug offenses and creating a unit to review wrongful convictions and . His campaign highlighted Missouri's challenges with urban decline in areas like County, framing his experience mediating post-Ferguson tensions as key to addressing crime and community safety without alienating . Bell critiqued Hawley for prioritizing performative actions over substantive policy, stating the senator "throws bombs but I don't think that he builds anything." Bell's entry placed him in a crowded Democratic primary led by Lucas Kunce, who had secured endorsements from labor unions and raised over $1.4 million by early , outpacing other contenders. Limited early on Bell's bid showed modest viability; an October Emerson College Polling survey indicated Hawley leading Bell by 10 points in a hypothetical general election matchup, reflecting the uphill challenge for Democrats in . Fundraising specifics for Bell's short-lived effort were not prominently reported, as his campaign focused initially on appeals tied to his local record rather than large-scale national donor networks. On October 30, 2023, Bell withdrew from the race after four months, redirecting his efforts to the primary in , citing consultations with community and political leaders who emphasized the need for his experience in a more winnable local contest. The decision reflected a strategic reassessment of the primary's competitiveness, where Kunce maintained frontrunner status amid a fragmented field, versus an opportunity to leverage Bell's prosecutorial profile against an incumbent perceived as diverging from broader Democratic priorities. Bell described the pivot as prioritizing "steady and effective leadership" for the district over a statewide long-shot bid.

2024 congressional primary

Wesley Bell, St. Louis County prosecuting attorney, launched his campaign for in October 2023, positioning himself as a pragmatic Democrat focused on local priorities including public safety and . He emphasized his prosecutorial record in addressing , contrasting it with Cori Bush's support for reducing police funding amid 's persistently elevated rates, where FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data showed the city ranking among the highest nationally for homicides per capita through 2023 despite recent declines from post-2020 peaks. Bell also highlighted Bush's congressional attendance issues, noting she ranked among the lowest in vote participation during the 117th , often prioritizing over legislative duties according to campaign analyses of records. The primary drew substantial outside spending, with pro-Israel organizations including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's United Democracy Project super PAC investing over $8.5 million in ads opposing , driven by her repeated calls for conditioning U.S. aid to and ceasefire demands amid the Israel-Hamas conflict; these expenditures were reported in filings and dwarfed support from Bush's progressive allies like , who spent under $2 million on her behalf. Bell's platform avoided deep engagement on , instead stressing federal intervention for district challenges like and job growth, appealing to voters disillusioned with Bush's national focus and divisive rhetoric on issues beyond local and . On August 6, , Bell secured victory with 56.1% of the vote (84,962 votes) to Bush's 43.9% (66,536 votes), based on certified results from the . Voter turnout totaled approximately 151,500, with Bell achieving stronger margins in suburban County precincts compared to urban City strongholds, indicating empirical preference for his prosecutorial moderation over Bush's alignment with progressive "" priorities in a district encompassing both areas.

U.S. House of Representatives

2024 general election

In the general election held on , 2024, Wesley Bell secured victory in , defeating Andrew Jones Jr. (18.4%, 56,453 votes), Libertarian Rochelle Riggins (3.3%, 10,070 votes), candidate Don Fitz (1.7%, 5,151 votes), and Better Party nominee Blake Ashby (0.7%, 2,279 votes), with Bell receiving 75.9% of the vote (233,312 votes) out of 307,265 total ballots cast. The district, encompassing the city of and parts of St. Louis County, is heavily Democratic-leaning (Cook Partisan Voter Index D+28), featuring a majority-minority population with over 50% African American residents and urban demographics that historically yield low Republican vote shares below 20%. Bell's campaign emphasized continuity from his prosecutorial record, prioritizing public safety measures like aggressive prosecution of and reforms, while promoting bipartisan approaches to local issues such as infrastructure and economic development to appeal to moderate and independent voters. The race attracted minimal national attention or interference, reflecting the district's safe Democratic status and limited GOP investment, which contributed to subdued turnout amid a statewide Republican presidential sweep. Election results were certified by the in December 2024, following local canvassing. Bell's substantial margin underscored a broad local mandate for his pragmatic platform over ideological alternatives, paving the way for his swearing-in to the on January 3, 2025.

Tenure and committee roles

Upon entering the in January 2025, Wesley Bell was assigned to the House Committee on Armed Services, where he serves on the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces and the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces. He was also appointed to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, with membership on the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement and the Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services. These assignments leverage Bell's prior experience as a , particularly in oversight of federal law enforcement operations. Bell joined several caucuses reflecting bipartisan and issue-specific affiliations, including the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, the , and the , the latter aligning with moderate, pragmatic Democratic priorities over progressive ones. Additional memberships encompass the Congressional Diversion and Rehabilitation Caucus (as co-chair), the , and the , among others focused on equity, resilience, and targeted policy areas. In his initial months, Bell sponsored H.R. 5794, the FEMA Operations Continuity Act of 2025, introduced on October 21, 2025, to authorize uninterrupted operations during potential lapses in appropriations authority. This early legislative initiative addressed procedural continuity in , drawing cosponsors including Representatives and . Bell's participation records through October 2025 include introductory remarks on related measures, such as H.R. 2669, referred to the House Judiciary Committee despite his non-membership there.

Legislative priorities

Bell introduced the FEMA Operations Continuity Act of 2025 (H.R. 5794) on October 20, 2025, to authorize continued operations for disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation during lapses in appropriations, such as shutdowns. The measure classifies FEMA's as an essential function, ensuring funding from the Disaster Relief Fund persists amid threats of fiscal disruptions, directly addressing impacts from the May 16, 2025, tornadoes and storms in that prompted recovery centers with FEMA assistance. This initiative reflects a focus on federal aid for local disasters, prioritizing continuity over partisan budget impasses. In public safety, Bell sponsored the Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback , allocating $360 million in grants for state and local programs to reduce circulation and mitigate urban violence risks. He also advanced H.R. 5539, the POW Act of 2025, to enhance healthcare access and priority services for former prisoners of war through the Department of . These measures align with district-specific needs in , emphasizing preventive and supportive interventions over broader ideological reforms. On and youth welfare, Bell introduced legislation on May 29, 2025, mandating data collection on interactions with individuals experiencing mental illness to inform evidence-based training and response protocols. He supported H.R. 2904 to tackle disparities among youth, especially youth of color, and cosponsored the Youth Mental Health Research Act (H.R. 2587) for expanded research and access initiatives. These efforts underscore commitments to , with early roll-call support showing adherence to Democratic priorities on while engaging bipartisan cosponsors on veteran and disaster aid provisions.

Political positions

Criminal justice reform

As St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney from 2019 to 2025, Wesley Bell adopted a "smart on crime" strategy that prioritized aggressive prosecutions for violent offenses, including the creation of specialized units targeting and auto theft, often linked to activity. His office prosecuted 58% more cases than under his predecessor, reflecting a commitment to holding perpetrators of serious s accountable while leveraging data-driven enforcement to address root causes of violence. This approach contrasted with broader "defund the police" movements, as Bell advocated for increased funding for to enhance capacity for community safety. Bell implemented pre-charge diversion programs for non-violent offenses, such as low-level possession, offering eligible individuals alternatives to formal charges like treatment or ; these yielded a recidivism rate of just 8%, with 92% of participants avoiding reconviction. For gang- and -related violent crimes, however, his policies enforced , channeling resources into rapid response and prosecution to disrupt cycles of retaliation and deter escalation, informed by prosecutorial data showing correlations between sustained enforcement and reduced repeat victimization. Regarding police accountability, Bell supported targeted reforms to doctrines to facilitate civil suits for constitutional violations by officers, arguing that such changes promote professionalism without eroding operational effectiveness or frontline morale. This balanced stance critiqued overly lenient in some jurisdictions, where reduced charging for repeat offenders has empirically correlated with spikes, as evidenced by national trends in clearance rates during periods of prosecutorial restraint. Bell's framework emphasized causal links between consistent sentencing for high-harm offenses and overall crime declines, drawing from his tenure's outcomes rather than ideological leniency.

Foreign policy, including Israel

Bell has articulated a staunch pro-Israel position, particularly in response to the , 2023, terrorist attack that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and resulted in over 250 hostages taken, emphasizing 's right to self-defense against an adversary explicitly committed to its destruction. He has labeled a "genocidal" terrorist group, arguing that demands in the immediate aftermath would reward such aggression, drawing on historical precedents where premature halts to operations against terrorist entities prolonged conflicts and enabled rearmament. This stance contributed to Bell's receipt of significant financial and organizational support from pro-Israel groups during his 2024 primary campaign against Representative , whose rhetoric included accusations of Israeli "" in —claims Bell has critiqued as empirically unsubstantiated given Israel's targeted operations against infrastructure, adherence to in warnings to civilians, and the disproportionate responsibility borne by for embedding military assets in densely populated areas, which inflated civilian casualties relative to the precision of strikes compared to norms. At an August 20, 2025, town hall in attended by about 300 constituents, Bell directly rebutted protesters' allegations against , redirecting focus to 's charter and actions as the root cause of the war's escalation and human cost. Bell's support for aligns with a broader to U.S. alliances and , evidenced by his January 15, 2025, statement welcoming a agreement between and as a mechanism to secure releases, facilitate , and degrade terrorist capabilities without compromising 's security gains. In June 2025, he co-sponsored legislation with Representatives and to promote in through enhanced U.S. diplomatic and security cooperation, underscoring a realist approach favoring deterrence against revisionist actors over isolationist withdrawal. While specific votes on supplemental aid packages in the 119th reflect standard Democratic alignment with military assistance tied to strategic U.S. interests in , Bell has not publicly advocated for conditioning such aid on shifts, prioritizing in countering Iran-backed proxies like over unilateral restraints.

Domestic and economic issues

Bell has emphasized workforce development and labor protections to address economic challenges in , which includes urban areas of with persistent poverty and rates exceeding the national average of 4.1% as of September 2025. In February 2025, he hosted a roundtable with St. Louis members to discuss safeguarding positions and expanding programs, reflecting his family's history of , including his grandfather's leadership of a 1967 for improved wages and benefits. On infrastructure and support, Bell has advocated for investments that generate local jobs, criticizing the administration's October 2025 revocation of a $197 million for a St. Louis battery manufacturing plant as "insanity" that undermines economic growth in the region. He co-sponsored H.R. 1634, the ThinkDIFFERENTLY and Disorder Policy Act, to enhance assistance for entrepreneurs with disabilities, aiming to foster inclusive market participation amid St. Louis's sector, which employs over 40% of the workforce. Regarding welfare programs, Bell opposed 2025 budget proposals that reduced funding by nearly $600 million and benefits by $300 million in , contending such cuts would devastate access and for low-income residents. On other domestic matters, he supports rights and, as St. Louis County prosecuting attorney, signed a 2022 pledge not to enforce post-Dobbs abortion bans. Bell favors "common sense gun reform" alongside public safety measures, consistent with district polling showing 65% support for background checks among Democrats. On , he has denounced Trump-era enforcement as "cruel and illegal," prioritizing protections for detainees and criticizing inconsistent application without endorsing stricter border measures.

Electoral history

[Electoral history - no content]

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