ST. ANN, Mo.—The St. Louis metropolitan area will have two new new representatives in Congress beginning in 2025. Democrat Wesley Bell, the St. Louis County Prosecutor who defeated first district incumbent Cori Bush in the August primary, easily bested a field of challengers including Republican Andrew Jones on Tuesday. Bob Onder, the former State Senator from Lake St. Louis, defeated Democrat Bethany Mann in the race for the third district seat which stretches from Cooper County into St. Charles County.
The demographics and of each district made Bell and Onder heavy favorites. Bell has largely been off the public campaign trail the past two months. His primary challenge against Bush, backed by millions in support from AIPAC and other pro-Israel groups, drew national attention as it took down a member of the progressive “Squad”.
Onder will succeed Blaine Luetkemeyer, the St. Elizabeth Republican who defeated Onder in a crowded primary field in 2008 for what eventually became the 3rd district. Luetkemyer will retire after the current term. Onder was endorsed in his primary campaign by former President Donald Trump and has spent time recently campaigning for other GOP candidates in Texas.
Bell told reporters Tuesday morning that he plans to remain in the prosecutor’s office until he’s sworn in to Congress in January.
County Executive Sam Page will appoint his replacement, which under the county charter, will be a Democrat, like Bell, and subject to County Council approval. His successor will serve out the remainder of Bell’s current term.
On Wednesday, the county said the application process had begun. Candidates can apply online at the county's website through Nov. 15. Candidates must be a licensed practicing attorney in the state for at least five years and a resident of the county for at least three years before taking the role. A committee will screen applicants, with finalists getting interviewd by Page. Bell's successor would serve through the end of 2026.
“I intend to do everything in my ability to help that transition. I want to give that individual every resource and support that maybe you know, I didn't get coming into it,” he said. “it's important that that person has every tool they need in the toolbox to be successful,” Bell said.
Onder, who was a member of the former “Conservative Caucus” in the Missouri State Senate, and was an honorary member of the Missouri Freedom Caucus, figures to carry that mantle to Washington as a member of the Congressional version. The House Freedom Caucus has at times, been a thorn in the side of House GOP leadership, contributing to the downfall of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the drawn out vote that eventually elevated Rep. Mike Johnson to the Speaker’s office.
While some analysts late Tuesday projected that Democrats would regain control of the House, likely paving the way for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to become Speaker, it was still too early to tell. Rep. Ann Wagner, the West County Republican who beat back a challenge by Democrat Ray Hartmann on Tuesday, said a decisive win by Republicans would mean the House GOP caucus would be prepared for leadership elections next week.
A change in party control in the House would mean a loss of committee chair posts for three other incumbents representing the greater St. Louis area who coasted to re-election Tuesday—House Ways and Means chair Jason Smith, Transportation and Infrastructure chair Sam Graves and Veterans Affairs chair Mike Bost. Smith's southeast Missouri district stretches into parts of Jefferson County while Graves' district spans the northern part of the state into Pike and Lincoln counties. Bost's district covers Southern Illinois. One Metro East incumbent, Republican Mary Miller was re-elected, while Democrat Nikki Budzinksi declared victory, although the Associated Press had yet to call the race early Wednesday.