Bell defeats Bush in contentious 1st Congressional District Democratic primary rematch
Congressman Wesley Bell defeated former Congresswoman Cori Bush on Tuesday in a bitter rematch of the 2024 Democratic primary to represent Missouri’s 1st District.
With nearly all of the votes counted Tuesday night, Bell led Bush 59.2% to 36.9%.
Bell is likely to keep his House seat representing St. Louis and much of St. Louis County because of the district’s overwhelmingly Democratic base.
Bell is in his first term after defeating Bush, who represented the 1st District from 2021 through 2025, in the primary two years ago.
Bell received support from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Kansas City Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, the Congressional Black Caucus and a variety of trade unions.
On Tuesday evening, Bell spent part of his victory speech thanking voters, volunteers, campaign staff, labor unions and faith leaders who endorsed him. He also touted his record from his time as a Ferguson City Council member to his tenure as St. Louis County prosecu…