ST. LOUIS, Missouri — St. Louis voters will decide one of the most hotly contested Democratic primary races for Congress in early August, but with just 25 days to go before early voting begins, it remains unclear if the public will get a chance to hear the two leading candidates compete for their votes on a debate stage.
U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-St. Louis), a two-term incumbent 'politivist' who toppled longtime former Congressman Lacy Clay in 2020, has so far refrained from accepting any invitations to share a stage with St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell.
At a press event in north St. Louis on Friday, Bush was asked if she believed voters deserve a chance to hear the two candidates debate.
"My team has repeatedly said that we will talk about that, we'll look further into it, as we get closer to the actual primary election," she said.
Early voting begins on June 25 before the Aug. 6 primary.
Bell and his campaign staff have signaled a willingness to clear their calendars and commit to as many debates or forums as possible.
"We hope Congresswoman Bush will show voters of this district the respect they deserve by agreeing to debate Wesley," Bell's campaign said in a written statement. "However, so far her campaign has been unresponsive to our campaign's outreach and that of other groups' trying to organize debates."
The Bush campaign has so far kept its cards close to the vest. In March, when the first invitations started to come, the campaign said they'd know more about their debate plans by April. Then, aides said they would push that decision back to May. Or possibly June.
Now, with time running out, opportunities are already starting to pass her by.
One invitation from the St. Louis Press Club would've granted Bush a chance to debate Bell later this month, but event organizers had to forgo their planned event when only one candidate responded to their invitation.
Earlier this month, Bush and Bell made brief, but separate, appearances at a local candidates forum organized by some Democratic groups in St. Louis County. Both candidates arrived late, and neither campaign publicized their quick-hit appearances.
Later, Bell's campaign said they were initially committed to the event if Bush would also confirm her arrival, and that they were caught off guard by Bush's late appearance.
Nearly three months ago, on March 6, Bush and Bell were both invited to participate in a televised debate on 5 On Your Side, the local public media TV station, and the St. Louis American.
"Nine PBS is planning to partner with KSDK (NBC) and the St. Louis American on a Democratic primary debate in early Q3 2024 between Congresswoman Bush and Wesley Bell," Nine PBS President and CEO Amy Shaw wrote to the candidates in an email. "We have produced many debates and are skilled in offering this critical public service to our audience and candidates."
John Bowman, the president of the local NAACP chapter in St. Louis County, has been working to encourage the candidates to agree to terms on a debate. He said the NAACP would participate as a proud sponsor of the event.
"The NAACP wants the public to be informed, so we do believe in public debates," he said.
At least one other broadcast outlet has also recently extended invitations to the campaigns asking them to consider attending a debate.
At her campaign launch event, Bush told her supporters that she would make the most out of every opportunity that comes her way.
"I'm always trying to get a message across," she said in January. "I don't want to waste a moment. If I got a mic, if I have a TV camera, if I'm on the radio, I don't want to waste a minute because there's something somebody needs, and so it's something that needs to be said."
Other local groups that support civic engagement and help register voters to participate in the democratic process expressed optimism that perhaps the candidates could come to terms and find a way to help voters make an informed decision.
"We should have a reason to vote," Nancy Price with the League of Women Voters said. "Hopefully, the candidates are going to touch on topics that are interesting to people."
Price said public debates and candidate forums play an important role in driving voter registration and turnout.
"I call it a hook," she said. "They hear something they're interested in. That's how you get out the vote."
Organizers at the League of Women Voters and other likeminded groups have lamented an overall decline in incumbent politicians showing interest in public candidate forums in recent years.
"This is just kind of simple math," Price said. "If you're the incumbent, you might think, 'What have I got to gain?' And, 'If I go on stage with someone who's running against me, I'm giving them airtime and recognition I don't need to be giving them.'"
"I think politics is about the electorate, and that's what the League is about," she said. "We hope that they're there to represent us. That's why we call them representatives."