ST. LOUIS — Fox 2 is your local election headquarters and the top candidates (those consistently polling above 5%) in one of the most-watched races in America sat down to discuss issues with us on Thursday.
A St. Louis Democratic primary race is drawing the eyes of the nation, with U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a member of the so-called “squad” (a group of progressive Democrats), fighting to keep her seat in Congress.
Bush and her chief opponent, St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, both trace their political roots to the unrest in Ferguson after the deadly police shooting of Michael Brown nearly 10 years ago but as this campaign has taken shape, it seems these two couldn’t be further apart.
Both candidates cite public safety as a top issue. Bush favors more funding for violence prevention while defunding police.
“Community violence prevention,” she said. “We’ve been able to talk about the dollars we’ve been able to bring to the community as it relates to community violence prevention. We’re glad to see that crime is down, especially in the City of St. Louis, but we have so much more work to do.”
“The number one killer of young black boys is gun violence in this region. We need common-sense gun laws,” Bell said. “My constituents in the city and in the county want to see more policing. They want to see better policing. They want to see more resources so law enforcement has all the tools they need, not less police. look at Detroit and Atlanta. They started from the inside out.”
Both favor ending Missouri’s total abortion ban. Bush accused the Bell campaign of accepting funds from groups that also support pro-life candidates elsewhere.
“Black women are directly, disproportionately, impacted by the harms that can come to the community when access to abortion is restricted,” Bush said. “I am the only person in this race who has the endorsement of planned parenthood, reproductive freedom for all, the abortion action fund, and national nurses. That’s me.”
“These are some of the same donors that the congresswoman went after and received in previous elections. I think that we need to codify Roe versus Wade,” Bell said. “I think that one mistake Democrats have made is that when we have had majorities in the House and Senate, we should have pushed harder to get that done. When I get to Congress, I’m going to speak it into existence.”
Perhaps the most divisive issue is the Israel-Hamas war, with Bush supporting pro-Palestinian protesters while accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. Bell’s campaign is heavily funded by a pro-Israel political action committee (AIPAC).
“We want to see that window open towards a two-state solution. It’s important that we stand against terror. Let me be clear: in no uncertain terms, Hamas is a terror state. They fire thousands of rockets into Israel every year. If not for the iron dome, Israel would not exist as we know it,” Bell said. “We don’t want to see one innocent Israeli or one innocent Palestinian harmed.”
“I have support from our Jewish community, as well as our Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian community. That is something my opponent cannot say,” Bush said. “So, who is actually for safety? Who is actually for peace? Who is actually for the well-being of all humans?”
As for their closing arguments to voters 10 days before the August 6th primary:
“This region has been dying a slow death. I believe this region is a sleeping giant and working together, it’s time to wake it up,” Bell said. “The folks in this district care about moving this region forward. They care about public safety and their families safety. They care about access to quality education. They care about access to jobs and job opportunities. That’s what they can expect me to fight for as their next congressman.”
“The difference between us is that I want to read the whole bill and champion things, starting with how we can help invest in those who need our help the most—those who have the greatest need. That is the work I am doing,” Bush said. “I was working on the climate crisis, Medicare for all, doing that before I ever entered congress. I was doing that because it’s what I believe in my soul. We are not the same because my work is for the people.”
Bell has repeatedly called for at least one debate. That seems like a long shot now, with no excuse for absentee early voting already underway.
