Wesley Jonell-Cleavon Bell[1] (born November 5, 1974)[2][3] is an American attorney and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Missouri's 1st congressional district since 2025.

[6] In October 2023, he instead opted to run for the U.S. House seat of Missouri's 1st congressional district, defeating incumbent Cori Bush in the Democratic primary in August 2024 and winning the general election in November.

[11] In 2006, Bell managed the campaign of Mark J. Byrne, a Republican candidate challenging Lacy Clay's seat in Missouri's 1st congressional district.

[2][5][15] The election was also seen as a referendum on incumbent Bob McCulloch, for his decision not to prosecute the white police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown.

[20] Former St. Louis police chief Tim Fitch urged Bell to turn the case over to federal prosecutors so that they could seek the death penalty.

Bell ultimately concluded, like his predecessor Bob McCulloch and the United States Department of Justice, that there was not probable cause to criminally charge Darren Wilson.

Williams was previously scheduled for execution in 2017, spared by a last minute stay by Eric Greitens, who appointed a board of inquiry later dissolved by Mike Parson.

[24] Following the ten year commemoration of the killing of Michael Brown, Bell pressed felony charges on at least eight protestors in Ferguson.

A police officer suffered brain injuries following a fall, however protest organizers say that the incident was not caused by the activist charged with assault.

In response, Bell informed the Dispatch that he repaid the Miami dinner immediately and refused to charge his office for any additional expenditures.

[34] Under pressure from his supporters, Bell ultimately apologized citing the actions as "missteps" and vowed to spend taxpayer money more appropriately in the future.

[35][36] In 2023, Bell announced a challenge to Josh Hawley for the U.S. Senate, in which he polled higher than fellow Democratic candidate Lucas Kunce.

[37] In late October 2023, he dropped out from the Senate race to challenge fellow Democrat Cori Bush for Missouri's 1st congressional district seat.

[43] In addition, the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC and the Democratic Majority for Israel had spent large amounts of money to defeat Bush.