Wesley Bell
Bell, who unseated Rep. Cori Bush amid record pro-Israel spending, opposes aid cuts: “I am no fan of Bibi Netanyahu, but we’re still going to stand with our allies.” Heckled at a town hall, he declined the genocide label: “Let’s talk about the word genocide because we see that differently.”
Bell has represented Missouri’s 1st District since January 2025, after a 2024 primary against Rep. Cori Bush that drew record pro-Israel outside spending; he defeated her again in the 2026 rematch primary. His two recorded votes appear as badges on this card: No on the amendment to cut $500 million for Israeli missile-defense programs, No on the 2026 amendment to cut $3.3 billion from aid to Israel.
An October 2023 interview is on the research page. In a July 2026 joint appearance with Cori Bush on St. Louis Public Radio he said he would oppose cutting off military aid: "I am no fan of [Israeli Prime Minister] Bibi Netanyahu, but we’re still going to stand with our allies", adding that he has told Netanyahu to his face where he disagrees. He co-sponsors the United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act and signed the May 2025 statement of 41 Democrats organized by Democratic Majority for Israel, a group that backs pro-Israel Democrats, on hostages and aid, per the existing record.
At his first in-person town hall in August 2025, receipted in the existing record, he was repeatedly heckled over Israel; he told the crowd "Let’s talk about the word genocide because we see that differently", declining the characterization while saying he has raised disagreements directly with Netanyahu. In the 2026 rematch he framed the stakes: "Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthis, they don’t just say death to Israel, period. They say death to Israel, comma, death to America", per the Missouri Independent’s receipted report. Jewish community leaders launched the Missouri Alliance Network out of coalition work he is part of, per the St. Louis Jewish Light. AIPAC’s and DMFI-aligned tracked support appears as badges on this card.
Tracked votes: backed sending U.S. weapons or funding to the government of Israel in 2 of 2 recorded votes.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- His recorded votes appear as badges on this card: No on the amendment to cut $500 million for Israeli missile-defense programs, No on the 2026 amendment to cut $3.3 billion from aid to Israel; he took office in January 2025.
- [Reaction window, 2023-10-30] The reliable-partners and basic-security quotes, receipted in the existing record from Jewish Insider’s interview. Off the card.
- [Position, 2026-07] The no-fan-of-Netanyahu-but-standing-with-allies line on St. Louis Public Radio, per the research record.
- [Action, 2025-04] The United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act co-sponsorship, per trackers and the existing record.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2025-01-15] His ceasefire statement pairing aid delivery with Israel’s security, receipted in the existing record from his own release.
- [Action, 2025-05-28] The 41-Democrat DMFI-organized statement, per the existing record.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2025-08-19] The town-hall genocide exchange, receipted in the existing record; his response to hecklers that they were "standing with an organization that want to commit genocide" is his characterization of Hamas, per the coverage.
- [Position, 2026-07-14] The death-to-Israel-comma framing, receipted from the Missouri Independent.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Race record] Record pro-Israel outside spending in 2024 and the 2026 rematch; tracked support appears as badges; his defense of that fundraising in a July 2026 KSDK interview, reported, not confirmed directly.
Safety and antisemitism
- [Context, 2025-03-19] The Missouri Alliance Network launch, verified via the Jewish Light; an initiative from coalition work he is part of.
- [Position, 2025-08-19] His town-hall framing of his Israel stance within opposition to antisemitism, per the receipted coverage.
Race and status context
- Sitting member, renominated after the 2026 rematch. His Republican opponent’s card carries its own record.
Also in this race: Paul Berry III (Republican), Xavier Phillips (Independent), Tom Schmitz (Libertarian) · All Missouri candidates.
See the full record →But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. Every claim on this page goes through at least two verification steps. Open the interactive card for votes, funding and contact details.