Cori Bush's Challenger Promised Not To Run Against Her

Progressive prosecutor Wesley Bell pledged to stay out of the race—before millions of dollars enticed him in.

By Ryan Grim, Drop Site

Last June, local prosecutor Wesley Bell called Rep. Cori Bush to assure her that under no circumstances would he be running against her, according to audio of a phone call between Bell and Bush obtained by Drop Site News. A few months later, he launched his primary challenge against Bush for the Missouri House seat after being recruited by AIPAC.

Speculation about Bell’s intentions had been heightened after publication of a column by Joe Holleman in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which noted the suspicions of local politicos that Bell was not fully committed to his announced run for Senate against Republican Josh Hawley, and may have been aiming to take on Bush. “My bet is that Mr. Bell is looking to raise his profile for a run against Congresswoman Cori Bush next year,” Ed Rhode, a former aide to the St. Louis mayor, and an adviser to numerous local politicians, told Holleman.

Cori Bush speaks outside of the Supreme Court

Bell told Bush that Hollemen was a “hack” and should be ignored. “Don’t think for even a second that that’s the case,” he told Bush. “And I’m telling you right now, I’m telling you on my word: I am not running against you. That is not happening.”

Bush told him she appreciated the call and the gesture. “I appreciate that,” she said. “I think the reason why people are asking me about it is because that’s what Steve Roberts did.” Roberts was a state senator in Missouri who “said he was running for one seat and then he switched at the end and ran”—against Bush.