Wesley Bell is almost certain to be the next congressman from Missouri’s 1st District after unseating incumbent U.S. Rep. Cori Bush in the Democratic primary last night—a closely watched race and the second featuring a member of the progressive “Squad” to lose to a better-funded opponent.
The scene at Bell’s campaign watch party at the Marriott St. Louis Grand in downtown St. Louis was buoyant when the first batch of absentee ballots showed him ahead, and the mood only grew more so as the night wore on and his victory became more and more assured.
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The Associated Press called the race at 10 p.m., with Bell having secured more than 50 percent of the vote.
Just a few hours earlier, the mood at the Bush campaign party only eight blocks away was considerably more anxious from the start. At the Chevre event space on Delmar, a sizable crowd of mostly young people sported purple campaign volunteer shirts. Many of them had spent the day in the heat doing last-minute canvassing and get-out-the-vote efforts, and they chowed down on Mediterranean and soul food. A photo montage of Bush campaigning around St. Louis with volunteers was projected on the wall.
Tiana Tunstall, who was not affiliated with the campaign, said she supported Bush. “I feel like she’s the real candidate. The real deal. Not fake and phony. She’s authentic,” said Tunstall, who lamented that Bush was blasted for being ineffective, a charge that she said was unfair, given the complexity of passing legislation. “It takes more than one person,” said Tunstall.
From the evening’s start, the Bush campaign said they expected Bell to lead the absentee vote, which was revealed first, but for Bush to steadily make up ground and ultimately emerge victorious—though even the most optimistic Bush campaign staffer conceded that it would be close. The amount of American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) money deployed against Bush was a common talking point, and the amount seemed to grow throughout the night, with various people saying that Bush was facing $14 million, $16 million, and even as much as $20 million from the pro-Israel lobbying group and their associated entities. (Recent estimates put spending by AIPAC’s affiliates at around $9 million, with Bell benefiting from $14.2 million in total.)
When the initial batch of absentee votes came in, a campaign staffer said the totals were actually better than they expected. Just after saying that, however, staffers could be seen huddled over smartphones, warily looking at the early reporting.
At Bell’s election night watch party, his campaign projected the incoming vote tallies on the wall. Around 8 p.m., they showed him up 63–33, with 18 percent reporting.
The Rev. Phillip Duvall said he supported Bush in her 2020 run against longtime incumbent William “Lacy” Clay, but his decision to now support Bell stemmed from Bush’s vote against the infrastructure bill in 2021, during her first term. He called the vote “fiscal irresponsibility.”
“Cori knows I don’t support her, and I would have told her to her face, but she didn’t show up to a meeting,” said Duvall. When she explained that infrastructure vote, Duvall said, she blamed it on the complexity of the legislative process, on Sen. Joe Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. “I don’t need a lesson,” Duvall said. “I don’t need a protestor. I need a congressperson.”
Around 9:20 p.m., speculation on social media suggested that the gap opened by Bell was all but impossible for Bush to close.
“If the nationals are calling it for him, I’m ready to scream,” said pro-Bell activist Debbie Kitchen, scrolling her phone anxiously.
Forty minutes later, it was official.
For all the talk of AIPAC money in the race, Bell only briefly alluded to Israel and its war in Gaza, saying, “We are going to stand with our fellow democracies around the world.”
He later added, “I am going to do everything in my power to be a part of the coalition to bring a lasting peace to so many folks that are struggling right now.”
The diversity of the crowd at Bell’s party was a key theme, with one attendee pointing out that while St. Louis is more than just Black and white, the 1st Congressional District is overwhelmingly Black and white. The demographics of the district matched those in the room cheering Bell.
“This is not about Black. This is not about white. This is not about being Jewish,” said Dr. Kendra Holmes, who introduced Bell. “This is about us being together for a common goal.”
Bell’s speech focused on unity, saying he does not consider political opponents his enemies. He said his priorities in Congress would include preserving abortion access for women, working with Moms Demand Action on gun safety, addressing homelessness, and lowering prescription drug costs.
“I am honored and humbled to be the Democratic nominee for Congress from this 1st District,” Bell said.
He reminded the crowd that there is still a general election in November, in which his victory is all but a guarantee. He joked that he’d be taking no questions. As LL Cool J’s “Rock the Bells” came over the PA system, a man near the front row raised a glass and offered, “Mazel tov!”
