ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell (D) made headlines Monday when he announced that he was dropping his bid for Republican incumbent Josh Hawley's seat in the U.S. Senate and will instead go after Cori Bush's seat in the House of Representatives.
Bell told KMOX News on Monday that a "culminations of events" took place for him to decide to switch and go after Bush's seat in the House.
"Polls came out recently in the Senate race that showed we were very much a viable candidate and maybe even polling the best of the other candidates," said Bell. "But at the same time, we recognized that we need to beat Josh Hawley."
Bell says that even before his brief Senate bid and while he was touring around the state during his bid, a consistent theme came up to him from voters across the state: they need better representation from Missouri District 1.
"I think we need steady and effective leadership. I'm from this district, I was raised and educated here, I work in this district. I care about what goes on here, said Bell. "I think that in a world that is becoming an increasingly dangerous place, we need steady and effective leadership in Washington D.C."
Bell will no doubt have a tough challenge to unseat incumbent Bush, who like Bell, defeated a longtime incumbent to take the seat.
"I don't intend to get nasty. I intend to run on my record and I think that's what voters want," said Bell. "I think that's what our constituents and district one want. And so, I am laser focused on getting our message out around this county and continuing the work that we've done."