Missouri's 1st Congressional District election, 2026
This race is for Missouri’s 1st Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, centered in the St. Louis area. The district is a Democratic-leaning seat that has drawn national attention because the 2026 Democratic primary is expected to be a rematch between incumbent Wesley Bell and former Rep. Cori Bush. The contest highlights a contrast between Bell’s record as incumbent and Bush’s progressive policy platform, making the primary the central fight in this district. Sources: https://www.cookpolitical.com/house/race/483406, https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2025-10-03/cori-bush-announces-bid-to-reclaim-missouris-1st-congressional-district, https://ballotpedia.org/Missouri%27s_1st_Congressional_District_election,_2026
Candidates
Wesley Bell
Wesley Bell is a Democratic U.S. representative from Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, first elected to Congress in 2024 and serving since January 2025. Before Congress, he served as St. Louis County prosecuting attorney, a Ferguson city council member, a municipal judge and prosecutor, and a public defender.
Cori Bush is a former U.S. representative from Missouri’s 1st Congressional District and a former nurse, pastor, and activist. She is running again in 2026 to reclaim the St. Louis-area seat, with a campaign focused on lowering costs, public health, reproductive freedom, democracy, and justice in Palestine.
Data Analysis Information
Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated 4/6/2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.