Wesley Bell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wesley Bell
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Bell in 2014
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| Prosecuting Attorney of St. Louis County | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Bob McCulloch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 5, 1974 St. Louis County, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
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Wesley Bell (born November 5, 1974) is an American attorney who currently is prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County, Missouri.
On June 7, 2023, Bell announced his candidacy in the 2024 United States Senate election in Missouri. 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.
Early life
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.
Career
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.
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. 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.
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.
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. Bell became the first Black county prosecuting attorney in St. Louis County history when he took office in January 2019.
Campaign for U.S. Congress
In 2023, Bell announced a challenge to Josh Hawley for the U.S. Senate, in which he polled higher than fellow Democrat candidate Lucas Kunce. 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. Bell told Bush, "I'm telling you on my word I am not running against you."
Politico reported that AIPAC earmarked over $800,000 for Bell's campaign as of April 30, 2024. Campaign ads are funded by United Democracy Project. In May 2024, it was reported that Bell had raised more than $65,000 from donors who also gave to one of Missouri’s two Republican senators, Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, in their most recent campaigns, or Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, the leading Republican candidate for governor. It has been reported that Bell received support and campaign financing from AIPAC, conservatives and Republicans.
On July 25, 2024, the St. Louis Dispatch, which had previously been critical of Bell, endorsed him.
Electoral history
2024
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Wesley Bell | 63,340 | 51.2 | |
| Democratic | Cori Bush (incumbent) | 56,492 | 45.6 | |
| Democratic | Maria Chappelle-Nadal | 3,257 | 2.6 | |
| Democratic | Ron Harshaw | 730 | 0.6 | |
| Total votes | 123,819 | 100.0 | ||
