Wesley Bell

Wesley Bell
Born	Wesley Jonell-Cleavon Bell 5 11, 1974
Birthplace	St. Louis County, Missouri, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Attorney, politician
Known for	First Black prosecuting attorney of St. Louis County; U.S. Representative for Missouri's 1st congressional district
Website	[Official congressional website Official site]

Wesley Jonell-Cleavon Bell (born November 5, 1974) is an American attorney and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Missouri's 1st congressional district since January 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Bell first rose to national prominence in 2018 when he defeated longtime St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch in a Democratic primary that was seen as one of the most significant local election upsets in Missouri history. Bell became the first Black prosecuting attorney in St. Louis County history upon taking office in January 2019, a milestone that drew national media attention in the years following the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. As prosecuting attorney, Bell introduced a series of criminal justice reforms, including ending prosecution of low-level marijuana possession cases. In 2024, he defeated incumbent U.S. Representative Cori Bush in the Democratic primary for Missouri's 1st congressional district and went on to win the general election in November. His primary campaign drew national scrutiny for the more than $8.5 million in support it received from pro-Israel lobbying groups, including AIPAC and the United Democracy Project. Since entering Congress in 2025, Bell has introduced and co-sponsored legislation on issues including defense technology, mental health, and labor rights.

Early Life

Wesley Jonell-Cleavon Bell was born on November 5, 1974, in St. Louis County, Missouri. He grew up in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, a region marked by deep racial and socioeconomic divides that would later inform his career in law and public service.

Bell's entry into local politics came through his involvement in the city of Ferguson, Missouri, and the neighboring community of Velda City. Prior to running for county-wide office, Bell served on the Ferguson City Council and worked as a municipal court judge in several small municipalities in St. Louis County. His work in the municipal court system exposed him to what he and others described as systemic problems in the way small municipalities in the St. Louis area used their courts and police forces to generate revenue, often at the expense of low-income and Black residents. These experiences became central to his public identity and his later campaign for prosecuting attorney.

The shooting of Michael Brown by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in August 2014, and the subsequent decision by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch not to indict Wilson, galvanized Bell and many others in the St. Louis region to seek reforms in the criminal justice system. The unrest and national attention that followed the shooting placed Ferguson and St. Louis County at the center of the broader Black Lives Matter movement and debates about police accountability, prosecutorial discretion, and racial justice in the American legal system.

Education

Bell holds a law degree and practiced as an attorney in the St. Louis area before entering elected office. He also served as a professor at a local university, teaching courses related to criminal justice. His academic and legal background informed his approach to criminal justice reform and his critique of the existing prosecutorial system in St. Louis County.

Career

Municipal Government and Early Legal Career

Before seeking county-wide office, Bell served as a member of the Ferguson City Council, where he became involved in efforts to reform municipal governance in the wake of the 2014 Ferguson unrest. He also worked as a municipal court judge in several small St. Louis County municipalities, including Velda City. In this capacity, Bell witnessed firsthand the practices of municipal courts that critics said were designed to extract fines and fees from residents, disproportionately affecting Black and low-income communities. His experience in these roles helped build his reputation as a reform-minded attorney and public servant.

2018 Prosecuting Attorney Election

Bell's candidacy for St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney in 2018 drew national attention. He challenged Bob McCulloch, who had served as the county's top prosecutor for 28 years and was a deeply polarizing figure, particularly after his handling of the grand jury process in the Darren Wilson case following the shooting of Michael Brown. McCulloch's decision not to indict Wilson had been criticized by civil rights leaders and community activists who argued that the prosecutor had failed to present the case in a manner that would lead to an indictment.

Bell ran on a platform of criminal justice reform, pledging to end cash bail for nonviolent offenses, reduce incarceration for low-level crimes, and bring greater transparency and accountability to the prosecutor's office. His campaign attracted support from grassroots organizations and activists who had mobilized in the years following the Ferguson unrest.

On August 7, 2018, Bell defeated McCulloch in the Democratic primary election, a result that was characterized as a major upset by local and national media outlets. NBC News described the victory as a "game changer" for criminal justice reform in the region. The St. Louis American reported on the historic nature of Bell's victory, noting that he became the first Black candidate to win the race for St. Louis County prosecuting attorney. Because the Democratic primary in St. Louis County is effectively the deciding election for the prosecuting attorney position, Bell's primary victory assured his election. He took office on January 1, 2019.

Prosecuting Attorney of St. Louis County (2019–2025)

Criminal Justice Reforms

Upon taking office, Bell moved quickly to implement several of the reforms he had campaigned on. In January 2019, he announced that his office would no longer prosecute marijuana possession cases involving less than 100 grams of the substance. This policy change was one of the most visible early actions of his tenure and was consistent with a broader national trend among progressive prosecutors to deprioritize low-level drug offenses.

Michael Brown Case Review

One of the most closely watched aspects of Bell's tenure was his decision to reopen the investigation into the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. Bell had campaigned in part on the promise of a fresh look at the case, and the reinvestigation was seen by many as a test of his commitment to accountability. However, after a five-month review, Bell announced that his office would not charge Wilson, citing insufficient evidence to secure a conviction.

The decision drew criticism from some community members and activists, including Lezley McSpadden, Michael Brown's mother, who stated that Bell "did not do a proper investigation." The outcome underscored the tension between campaign promises and the evidentiary standards required for criminal prosecution, and it became a point of contention throughout Bell's tenure.

Catholic Supply Store Case

Bell's office handled the prosecution of the 2018 murder and sexual assault at a Catholic Supply store in the Ballwin area of St. Louis County. The case drew significant public attention and raised questions about Bell's approach to capital punishment. Bell announced that he would not seek the death penalty in the case, a decision that was consistent with his stated opposition to capital punishment but which drew sharp criticism from some victims' families and community members. Critics, including some local officials and editorialists, argued that the death penalty should have been considered given the severity of the crimes.

Controversies and Criticism

Bell's tenure as prosecuting attorney was not without controversy. In 2019, investigative reporting by KSDK revealed that a top staffer in Bell's office owed thousands of dollars in back child support, raising questions about the vetting process for his hires. The St. Louis American published an editorial urging Bell to address internal management issues within his office, stating that he "needs to clean up the mess he made." Bell responded in a guest column in the same publication, acknowledging mistakes and pledging to address them, writing, "I cannot allow my missteps to undermine our mission."

Additionally, KSDK reported that Bell had accumulated hundreds of dollars in unpaid parking tickets while using a taxpayer-funded SUV, drawing further scrutiny of his personal conduct in office.

2024 Congressional Campaign

Initial Senate Candidacy

On June 7, 2023, Bell announced his candidacy for the 2024 U.S. Senate race in Missouri, seeking the seat held by Republican Josh Hawley. However, in October 2023, Bell shifted his campaign to the U.S. House race for Missouri's 1st congressional district, setting up a primary challenge against incumbent Representative Cori Bush.

Primary Against Cori Bush

The 2024 Democratic primary in Missouri's 1st congressional district became one of the most high-profile and expensive congressional primaries in the country. Bell challenged Bush, a first-term incumbent who was a member of the progressive "Squad" caucus in the House. The race attracted significant national attention in part because of the role of outside spending. Bell's campaign received over $8.5 million in support from pro-Israel lobbying groups, including AIPAC and the United Democracy Project, making it one of the most heavily funded primary challenges of the cycle. Bush, who had been a vocal critic of Israel's military actions in Gaza, was a primary target of these groups.

Bell defeated Bush in the August 2024 Democratic primary, a result that was seen as reflective of both local dynamics within the district and the influence of national political organizations in congressional primaries. He went on to win the general election in November 2024 and took office as the U.S. representative for Missouri's 1st congressional district on January 3, 2025, succeeding Bush.

U.S. House of Representatives (2025–present)

Legislative Activity

Since entering Congress, Bell has been active in co-sponsoring legislation on a range of issues. In September 2025, he co-introduced a resolution alongside Representatives Shri Thanedar and Mike Lawler recognizing the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, known as the 988 Day Resolution.

In February 2026, Bell co-sponsored a bill to create regional defense technology hubs across the United States, aimed at bolstering national defense innovation and economic development outside of traditional defense industry centers.

Bell also joined other congressional leaders in calling on Boeing to negotiate in good faith during a 2025 strike by members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) at the company's St. Louis facilities, where approximately 3,200 IAM District workers were affected.

Israel Debate and Town Hall Protests

Bell's support for Israel continued to be a subject of public debate during his congressional tenure. In August 2025, he held a town hall in St. Louis that drew approximately 300 attendees. Bell was repeatedly confronted by protesters who challenged his positions on Israel and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Following the town hall, a man who had been hired to provide security for Bell was placed on administrative leave by his employer, Affinia Healthcare, after a video from the event circulated publicly.

2026 Rematch with Cori Bush

In October 2025, former Representative Cori Bush announced her bid to reclaim Missouri's 1st congressional district, setting up a nationally watched rematch against Bell. Bush received the endorsement of the Justice Democrats, the progressive political organization that had supported her initial run for Congress.

State of the Union Boycott

In February 2026, Bell announced that he would boycott President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, joining a number of other Democratic members of Congress who declined to attend.

Personal Life

Bell has spoken publicly about his roots in the St. Louis area and the experiences that shaped his interest in criminal justice reform. He has described his time as a municipal court judge and Ferguson City Council member as formative in shaping his views on the intersection of race, poverty, and the legal system. Bell has maintained a public presence in St. Louis County throughout his career. Details about his private family life have not been extensively reported in public sources.

Recognition

Bell's 2018 victory over Bob McCulloch was covered extensively by national media outlets, including The New York Times, New York Magazine, NBC News, and HuffPost. His election was described as a direct outgrowth of the activism and political mobilization that followed the shooting of Michael Brown and the Ferguson unrest. NBC News called his victory a "game changer" for criminal justice reform in the St. Louis region.

His 2024 primary victory over Cori Bush also drew significant national and international attention, both for its implications for the progressive movement within the Democratic Party and for the role of pro-Israel political spending in congressional elections. The race was one of the most closely watched Democratic primaries of the 2024 election cycle.

Legacy

Bell's career has been shaped by and intertwined with some of the most significant debates in American criminal justice and electoral politics in the early 21st century. His 2018 election as the first Black prosecuting attorney of St. Louis County was a direct consequence of the political energy generated by the Ferguson unrest and the broader Black Lives Matter movement. His policy changes in office—particularly the decision to stop prosecuting low-level marijuana possession—reflected a broader national trend among reform-minded prosecutors who sought to reduce incarceration and address racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

At the same time, his tenure was marked by the tensions inherent in reform-oriented prosecution, particularly the difficulty of balancing campaign promises with the evidentiary requirements of the legal system, as demonstrated by his decision not to charge Darren Wilson after reopening the Michael Brown investigation. His transition to Congress and the circumstances of his 2024 primary victory have placed him at the intersection of debates about the role of money in politics, the direction of the Democratic Party, and the influence of foreign policy issues—particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—on domestic elections.

As of early 2026, Bell continues to serve in Congress while facing a potential rematch with Cori Bush in the 2026 Democratic primary.