The American endorses Cori Bush for Congress

The St. Louis American has a standard it uses to make political endorsements – what maximizes the concerns and interests of the Black community. Here’s how we see the political context of the 1st Congressional race next Tuesday August 6, 2024.

Whoever wins this race, the Congressperson from the 1st Congressional District, in either case, will be Black, like they have been for almost 60 years. Either the incumbent or the challenger will have very little or no seniority, therefore little to no real political influence. Lastly they will be one of 60 Black members in the House of Representatives of 435 members, and not in the leadership. While the position is important, it’s not singularly impactful. Whoever is the Congressperson from the 1st District is what they’ll really need is a Democratic President, and Democratic controlled House and Senate to be effective.

The ultimate power of government is the power to legally deny your freedom. That power resides with local prosecutors. While they must be guided by statutes passed by state legislatures, they make thousands of discretionary decisions that determine whether you walk away free or whether your fate lies with a jury of your peers. There has been no branch of American government more deleterious to the Black community than the criminal justice system.

Here is our current political situation. We have a Black Congressperson, Cori Bush, who is running for reelection. We also have a Black St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney, Wesley Bell, who is running against Cori Bush for the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District. If Cori Bush prevails next Tuesday, we still have a Black Congressperson and Wesley Bell is still the Black County Prosecuting Attorney. If Wesley Bell prevails, we will still have a Black Congressperson but we’ll no longer have a Black Prosecuting Attorney in St. Louis County.

The question for the American is: Which scenario better serves the interest of the Black Community? 

There is an emerging generation of Black political leadership born in the last quarter of the 20th century, coming of age in the first quarter of this century. The American recognizes and supports this passing of the baton, however the support is not unequivocal and we reserve the right to critique their performance.

Cori Bush seems to be confused about being an activist as synonymous with being a politician. While activism has long been the incubator of Black politics and its important that activism inform our politics, it’s not the same thing. Politics is the art and science of acquiring and successfully using power to advance your interests. The American suggest that Rep. Bush spend some time with Reps Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley, and Tlaib to successfully master the transition from activist to effective politician.

Wesley Bell seems to suffer from a different flaw. The idea that personal political ambition and the interest of the Black community is the same thing. The decision to abandon the office of Prosecuting Attorney and run for Congress apparently didn’t consider the interest of the Black community.

Using the criteria that matters most, what supports and/or expands the best interest of the Black community, we support the status quo and recommend, in this cycle, the re-election of Cori Bush.

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We think that the Democratic candidate who has the best opportunity to defeat incumbent Republican Sen. Josh Hawley in red-state Missouri is 13-year Marine veteran Lucas Kunce. He is the frontrunner in the Democratic primary on August 6, with the most resources and endorsements.

We endorse Lucas Kunce for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate.

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Since his appointment by Gov. Mike Parson in May 2023, Gabe Gore has doubled the number of attorneys (many who served previously in the office), charged many more criminal cases and reduced significantly the backlog of unadjudicated cases. He also has pledged to “prevent criminal action through targeted intervention and effective enforcement.”

Based on his exemplary performance, we endorse Gabe Gore unequivocally for election as St. Louis Circuit Attorney.