Wesley Bell
DINCUMBENTU.S. Representative (since 2025)
Wesley Bell is the incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative for Missouri's 1st District. A former public defender and St. Louis County prosecuting attorney, he defeated Cori Bush in the 2024 Democratic primary and again in the 2026 primary, and sits on the House Oversight and Armed Services committees.[1][2]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Key votes in Congress
- YesWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
- YesResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
- NoConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
- YesBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
- YesWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
- YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
- YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
- NoContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
- NoCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
- YesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
- NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
- NoRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
- NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
- NoSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
- NoFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
- NoLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.
On the record — official actions
- actionServes on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee; Health Care and Financial Services Subcommittee) in the 119th Congress.[2]
- actionServes on the House Committee on Armed Services (Strategic Forces Subcommittee; Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee) in the 119th Congress.[2]
- billIntroduced the No ICE Ads Act to prohibit taxpayer-funded partisan ICE promotional advertising.[7]
- billIntroduced the Community First Pretrial Reform Act, creating a Department of Justice grant program to help local communities reduce unnecessary jail time.[6]
Positions on the issues
- OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes
Voted no on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.[8][9][10][11]
What they say: Calls for ICE to be abolished and defunded and has introduced or cosponsored legislation to restrict ICE funding and require law enforcement officers to be identifiable.[7]
“Congressman Bell has been clear: ICE needs to be abolished and defunded, and the Trump Administration must be held accountable.”
- SupportsExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes
Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[9][10][11][12]
What they say: Cosponsors the Medicare for All Act and lists expanding healthcare access and protecting Medicaid and Medicare among his priorities.[4]
“Cosponsor of the Medicare for All Act”
- SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes
Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[9][10][11]
What they say: Lists expanding clean energy investment among his positions on environmental justice and energy affordability.[5]
“Congressman Bell supports: Lowering household energy costs Expanding clean energy investment Environmental remediation Disaster resilience and preparedness Modernizing infrastructure”
- SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes
Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[9][10][11]
- OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes
Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[13]
In their words — priorities
- Expand healthcare access, protect Medicaid and Medicare, and invest in public health research and mental health services.[4]
- Lower household energy costs and expand clean energy investment.[5]
- Advance diversion and rehabilitation programs as alternatives to incarceration, drawing on his background as a former prosecuting attorney.[6]
Background
- Grew up in North St. Louis County; earned a bachelor's degree from Lindenwood University and a law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.[2]
- Worked as a public defender before being elected St. Louis County prosecuting attorney in 2018.[2]
- Assumed office in the U.S. House in January 2025 after defeating incumbent Cori Bush in the 2024 Democratic primary.[2]
Campaign money
Raised $3.6M · spent $2.9M · $1.1M cash on hand (through 2026-07-15) FEC filing ↗