Democrat · Missouri's 1st District · 2026
Wesley Bell
Bell worked his way through college waiting tables at Shoney's, refereeing youth sports and working for a phone company.
Biography
Wesley Bell worked his way through college waiting tables at Shoney's, refereeing youth sports and working for a phone company.1 He grew up in St. Louis County, the son of a police officer and a county civil servant.2 He attended Hazelwood East High School in north St. Louis County and grew up in a union household.1
Bell earned a bachelor's degree at Lindenwood University and a law degree at the University of Missouri.2 He began his legal career as a public defender and later taught criminology at St. Louis Community College's Florissant Valley campus.2 His local legal work also included serving as a municipal judge in Velda City and prosecutor in Riverview.2
He was elected to the Ferguson City Council in 2015 and became the first Black person elected St. Louis County prosecuting attorney in 2018.2 Bell entered Congress in 2025.1 He now serves on Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform, and Foreign Affairs, joining the last committee in June 2026.3
His Justice Forward Agenda proposes federal support for pretrial services, diversion, treatment and rehabilitation rather than relying primarily on incarceration.4 He also cochairs the Congressional Diversion and Rehabilitation Caucus.5 His office's issues page calls for abolishing and defunding Immigration and Customs Enforcement.6 He supports action on climate change and access to clean air and water.2
Record and controversies
Discrimination settlement
In January 2025, St. Louis County agreed to pay $500,000 to settle a former assistant prosecutor's 2020 race, sex and age discrimination and retaliation claims involving Bell.7 The lawsuit alleged that Bell favored male employees and forced her out after she complained about treatment and case decisions.7 It quoted a disciplinary report in which Bell said he had lost faith in her ability to handle criminal cases and work with police honestly and professionally.7 First Alert 4 said it was awaiting Bell's response to the settlement when it published that report.7 A judicial finding on the merits was not independently verified.
2019 office expenses
In October 2019, the St. Louis American criticized approximately $30,000 in expenses over ten months in Bell's prosecutor's office, including an approximately $800 Miami dinner.8 It reported that Bell accepted the criticism and said he had reimbursed the county for the dinner.8 The editorial framed the issue as poor judgment rather than a law violation.8 In his own November 2019 column, Bell apologized, called his spending irresponsible and promised to do better with public money.9 A formal ruling on those expenses was not verified in this review.
Office controls investigation
A state auditor review of Bell's former prosecutor's office found no improper purchases in the reviewed credit card transactions, including his card.10 It identified gaps in purchasing controls, documentation of attorneys' secondary employment, supervisory review of timesheets and public records procedures.10 The report concluded that the issues did not suggest significant improper governmental activity and recommended closing the investigation with a letter seeking improvements.10 Bell's successor reported implementing stricter spending and timekeeping procedures.10