FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2026
July 20, 2026
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-374-6491
[email protected]
Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Missouri Reps. Bell, Cleaver for Reelection to Congress
Categories:
Congress, Election 2026, House
Reps. Bell, Cleaver have 100% voting record on AFGE’s top legislative issues
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The American Federation of Government Employees proudly announces its endorsements of Reps. Wesley Bell and Emanuel Cleaver from Missouri for reelection to Congress. The statewide primary is Aug. 4, and the general election is Nov. 3.
Rep. Bell represents Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, while Rep. Cleaver represents Missouri’s 5th Congressional District.
Both leaders have demonstrated a strong and consistent commitment to federal employees and working families. In 2025, each maintained a 100% voting record in support of AFGE-backed issues, standing firmly with federal workers during one of the most significant periods of attacks on their rights, including efforts to weaken collective bargaining protections.
“Representatives Bell and Cleaver didn’t just talk about supporting federal employees; they showed up when it mattered most,” said AFGE District 9 National Vice President Shane Reedy. “They had a 100% voting record for AFGE members in 2025 and proved they had our backs during some of the toughest fights we’ve faced. Now it’s our turn to have theirs.”
During the DHS shutdown, Rep. Bell went above and beyond for the members of AFGE Local 912 at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. While Transportation Security Administration officers worked without pay and faced tremendous uncertainty, Bell stood with our members, listened to their concerns, and fought to ensure their voices were heard. His commitment to working people and willingness to support federal employees during one of the most difficult periods in their careers did not go unnoticed.
Rep. Cleaver has been an equally reliable ally when it counted. He stood with AFGE members at a press conference to push back against DOGE’s assault on the federal workforce and spoke out during the shutdown against threats to withhold back pay, joining a bipartisan call urging the administration to follow the law and make workers whole. He also opened his office to constituents, providing resources to federal employees navigating the uncertainty of the shutdown. Time and again, Cleaver has shown he understands what is at stake for the families who keep our government running.
Throughout the past year, AFGE members across Missouri have worked to push back against policies that threaten the federal workforce, including efforts to undermine workplace protections, cut benefits, and erode collective bargaining rights. Representatives Bell and Cleaver stood alongside AFGE members in these fights, advocating for fair treatment, respect, and dignity for public servants.
Nearly 53,000 federal employees live in Missouri — caring for veterans, supporting the military, and making sure Social Security recipients get their benefits accurately and on time.
AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing more than 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers in all functions of government. AFGE represents more than 56,000 federal employees in District 9, which includes Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
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