The Democratic primary race for the U.S. Senate in August 2024 got far more interesting from a political pundit point of view.
On Wednesday, ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, well-known in the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area, announced he was running againstÌýLucas Kunce, an unknown political entity until he picked up statewide recognition, and a solid chunk of campaign money, when he ran and lost to Trudy Busch Valentine in the 2022 Democratic primary.
With none ever at a loss for opinions or observations, several longtime political-game players weighed in with their views of the pending Kunce-Bell race.
“What does the (ºüÀêÊÓƵ) region have to do to get a full-time prosecutor?â€ÌýJane Dueker, an outspoken critic of Bell, asked.
“We’re in the middle of a crime crisis and Wesley wants to take some time off to run for the Senate,†she said.
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Dueker then pointed to Bell’s failed attempt last month to take over the operations of former ºüÀêÊÓƵ Prosecuting Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner.
“Apparently, the only job (Bell) doesn’t want is the one he already has,†Dueker said.
Richard Callow, who has worked with and for numerous ºüÀêÊÓƵ Democrats in past elections, saw Bell’s candidacy in a far more positive light — even mentioning the fact that the Missouri AFL-CIO endorsed Kunce on Wednesday.
“Announcing a major labor endorsement is usually a good reason for cupcakes in the office,†Callow said. “Instead, Lucas Kunce will be answering questions about the Democratic primary all day.â€
Callow also opined that while Bell is relatively unknown outside the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area, there are some factors that could tilt to Bell’s favor.
“Lucas has never won an election; Wesley has never lost one,†Callow said. “Lucas has a strong message; Wesley has a strong record.†(Actually, Bell lost a primary race to ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Councilwoman Hazel Erby on Aug. 5, 2014, just four days before Michael Brown was fatally shot by a Ferguson police officer.)
Michael Butler, former chair of the Missouri Democratic Party, held a similarly positive view of Bell’s candidacy.
“Wesley is a proven leader who was won tough races and delivered for his constituents in Missouri,†said Butler, who serves as ºüÀêÊÓƵ Recorder of Deeds. “Josh Hawley has been an embarrassment to our state, and Wesley can beat him next November.â€
Jamilah Nasheed, a former Democratic state legislator and now a member of the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole, had no objections to Bell entering the race. “It’s a person’s right to run for office and you can't tell them they shouldn’t.â€
But Nasheed said she was concerned that the Democratic primary, with two major candidates, would eat up money and energy that could be focused more effectively on defeating Hawley.
“Honestly, I think Democrats need to be a little more strategic if we want to win†statewide races, she said.
Ed Rhode, former top aide to Mayor Francis G. Slay and political operative for numerous past candidates and causes, sees Bell’s race as being somewhat uphill.
“Mr. Bell has a long road ahead of him. Lucas Kunce ran statewide two years ago, has high name I.D. among Democrats and essentially has organized labor locked down on this race,†Rhode said.
Rhode also said out loud the part that other politicos had been hinting at for months — especially after Bell’s bungled bid to take over Gardner’s officeÌý— that Bell wants to expand his recognition outside of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area.
Said Rhode, “My bet is that Mr. Bell is looking to raise his profile for a run against Congresswoman Cori Bush next year.
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