Frederick Wellman
D
Won the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary
Frederick (Fred) Wellman is the Democratic nominee for Missouri's 2nd District. A retired Army helicopter pilot and 20-year veteran who later led the Lincoln Project, he is campaigning on affordability, healthcare and retirement security.[1][4]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Positions on the issues
- SupportsExpand public health coverage
Supports expanding access to affordable healthcare through a public option and allowing Missourians to buy into Medicare before turning 65.[4]
In their words — priorities
- Affordability: says families face rising costs for housing, healthcare, childcare and groceries while wages stay flat, and calls for lowering costs and expanding good-paying jobs.[4]
- Healthcare: supports a public option and allowing people to buy into Medicare before age 65 to increase competition and lower premiums.[4]
- Retirement security: wants to protect Social Security and Medicare and defend pensions.[4]
Background
- Grew up in Kirkwood, Missouri; attended West Point and served more than 20 years in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot and officer, including multiple deployments to Iraq, earning his Ranger tab.[4]
- Earned a master's degree from Harvard's Kennedy School and founded ScoutComms, a firm focused on veterans and military families.[4]
- Helped lead a team of Special Operations medical veterans to build and run a field hospital in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic, and later served as Senior Advisor and Executive Director of the Lincoln Project.[4]
Campaign money
Raised $1.2M · spent $914K · $242K cash on hand (through 2026-07-15) FEC filing ↗