Bell Wins Reelection in Missouri's 1st District
Democratic incumbent Wesley Bell secured a second term in Missouri's 1st Congressional District on Election Day.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Do you trust federal disaster relief to reach St. Louis tornado victims fairly?
U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell won reelection in Missouri's 1st Congressional District with 82.81% of the vote. He defeated Republican Paul Berry, who received 13.54%, and Libertarian Tom Schmitz, who received 3.65%.
Why it matters
Bell's win keeps the seat in Democratic hands for another term. He has said a Democratic House majority would allow stronger oversight of the Trump administration, and he has pledged to improve federal disaster relief for St. Louis residents still waiting on aid.
Bell won 82.81% of the vote in Missouri's 1st Congressional District, ahead of Republican Paul Berry at 13.54% and Libertarian Tom Schmitz at 3.65%. The source does not report total vote counts or the final certified totals.
The players
Wesley Bell
Wesley Bell is a Democratic U.S. Representative from Missouri's 1st Congressional District who has served since 2025 after defeating a longtime incumbent in the Democratic primary.
The details
Bell voted at a Clayton library on Election Day before the results came in. Residents of St. Louis, including voters in University City and unincorporated St. Louis County, face continuing gaps in federal aid after two tornadoes struck the region last year, and Bell said he wants to fix that disaster relief process.
Timeline
Last year: Two tornadoes struck the St. Louis region.
November 4, 2026: Election Day, when Bell won reelection and voted in Clayton.
Political Context
Bell's reelection sets up a continued fight over federal disaster aid for St. Louis after last year's tornadoes. Opposition candidates in the race offered little in the way of a counter-plan, with Berry drawing 13.54% and Schmitz 3.65% of the vote.
For St. Louis residents still waiting on federal aid for last year's tornado damage, Bell's second term means continued pressure on the disaster relief process. Voters in the district now have Bell representing them in Congress for the next term.
The takeaway
Federal disaster aid can stall long after a storm, and local voters often judge representatives on whether that relief arrives. Watching how Bell follows through on relief promises will show whether his second term delivers results.
Further reading
For more on the race, see Elections coverage across Missouri.
Source note: This article includes information reported by St. Louis American.
Live Poll
Do you trust federal disaster relief to reach St. Louis tornado victims fairly?
