Missouri House Races 2026: Bell, Cleaver, Safe R Majority
8 seats total · 6R, 2D · No competitive seats · Cori Bush ousted in primary by Wesley Bell · R+18 state · Sam Graves longest-serving MO Republican
Missouri Full House Delegation
Key Stories in Missouri's Delegation
The 2024 Primary Upset: Indictment + AIPAC + Bell
The most dramatic Missouri congressional story of the 2024 cycle was the primary defeat of Cori Bush (D) by Wesley Bell in MO-1. Bush, a progressive "Squad" member first elected in 2020 who defeated 10-term incumbent Lacy Clay, faced a convergence of forces that made her exceptionally vulnerable. Federal prosecutors indicted her on bribery charges alleging she had paid her now-husband approximately $70,000 in campaign funds for security services that largely were not performed. Pro-Israel groups — particularly AIPAC — spent an estimated $8 million against her in the primary due to her vocal opposition to U.S. military aid to Israel. Wesley Bell, the St. Louis County prosecutor who had built a moderate, reform-minded profile, defeated Bush by approximately 20 points in the August 2024 primary. Bush continued to face federal charges after her defeat. Bell won the general elections easily — MO-1's D+35 lean makes it impervious to Republicans regardless of the Democratic nominee.
Kansas City's Voice: Methodist Minister and Congressman
Emanuel Cleaver (D) has represented Kansas City since 2005, combining his roles as an ordained United Methodist minister, former Kansas City mayor, and congressional progressive. He is known for occasionally opening House sessions with the phrase "Amen and A-woman" — a quip that sparked considerable controversy. Cleaver serves on the House Financial Services Committee, reflecting Kansas City's significant banking and insurance sector. His district covers Kansas City's urban core, including the historic 18th and Vine jazz district, the Country Club Plaza, and diverse neighborhoods ranging from working-class Hispanic communities to middle-class Black neighborhoods. The district's D+30 lean makes it safe regardless of Republican spending or candidate quality. Cleaver, now in his 70s, is among the older Democratic members and has not announced whether he will continue running indefinitely, making future succession a question for Kansas City Democrats.
Once a Swing State, Now Reliably R+18
Missouri's political transformation from presidential bellwether to safe Republican state is one of the more dramatic partisan shifts in modern American politics. Missouri voted for the presidential winner in every election from 1904 to 2004 — a century of bellwether status. Bill Clinton carried the state twice. But in 2008, Missouri voted for John McCain by 3,903 votes while Barack Obama won the presidency — the narrowest presidential margin in the country that year. Since then, the state has moved sharply right: Trump won by 18 points in 2020 and by similar margins in 2024. The shift was driven by the collapse of rural and small-town Democratic voting, particularly in the Ozarks, the Bootheel, and the agricultural counties between St. Louis and Kansas City. Ann Wagner (MO-2), who represents St. Louis's wealthy western suburbs, was once considered a potential statewide candidate, but Missouri's political landscape has grown so Republican that primary competition rather than general election competitiveness is the relevant threat for GOP incumbents.
