Fred
Wellman
Democratic nominee Fred Wellman, Army veteran and Lincoln Project alum, challenges incumbent Ann Wagner in Missouri's 2nd Congressional District.
- sources
- 12
- positions
- 9
- endorsements
- 58
Background
Fred Wellman is the Democratic nominee for Missouri's 2nd Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election, challenging Republican incumbent Ann Wagner. He grew up in Kirkwood, Missouri, graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1983, and went on to earn a commission as an Army aviator from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He later graduated from Army Ranger School and earned a master's degree from Harvard Kennedy School. 34
Wellman served as an Army aviator before retiring from the military in 2010 after more than two decades of service. Following his military career, he founded ScoutComms, a firm focused on veterans and military families, and helped staff a New York City field hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. He subsequently served as senior adviser for veterans affairs and later executive director of the Lincoln Project. 34
Wellman also hosts On Democracy with FPWellman on the MeidasTouch Network and has been active as a veteran advocate and commentator. He won the Democratic primary on August 4, 2026, and now faces incumbent Ann Wagner in the general election. 1113
Wellman has received endorsements from veterans-focused organizations including VoteVets and JStreetPAC, and was highlighted as part of the Lincoln Project's first congressional class for 2026. 248
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 2, Missouri
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Host of *On Democracy with FPWellman* on the MeidasTouch Network; Democratic nominee for U.S. House, Missouri's 2nd Congressional District
- Website
- wellmanformo.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 8newsWellman criticizes Rep. Wagner for supporting the Iran war, cites lack of strategy from Trump
In an interview with St. Louis Public Radio, Wellman criticized Wagner for supporting the Iran war, saying President Trump lacked a firm strategy or reason for starting the conflict. He also criticized Trump's approach to Ukraine, tariffs, and trade wars, and said a Democratic-led House would increase oversight of the administration. He also noted 19 labor unions had endorsed him.
Democratic candidate Wellman chides Rep. Wagner for her support of Iran war · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 8endorsementWellman notes 19 labor union endorsements, some of which had sat out previous two election cycles
In the October 8 STLPR report, Wellman said 19 labor unions had endorsed him, noting that some had sat out the previous two election cycles. The individual unions were not listed in the report.
Democratic candidate Wellman chides Rep. Wagner for her support of Iran war · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 27newsWellman interviewed on KSDK's Today in St. Louis, addresses trans policy and Wagner finance claims
In a televised interview, Wellman explained his position on transgender medical care, saying families on Medicare or Medicaid should have doctor-recommended care covered and that government should not intervene between a family and their doctor. He said there is no surgery for minors. He also said Wagner 'may not be corrupt herself' but was 'very clearly comfortable with those who are.'
Transcript: Fred Wellman's interview on KSDK's Today in St ... · Sep 27, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 25pollPoll showing Wellman-Wagner statistical tie reported publicly by Missouri Scout and First Alert 4
Missouri Scout and First Alert 4 publicly reported on the Remington Research poll showing Wagner at 43% and Wellman at 42%, within the margin of error, drawing attention to the competitiveness of the MO-02 race.
MOScout Daily Update: CD-2 Poll and What It Means - Mosley’s Defamation Suit - The Hit on Fogle? and more… — Missouri Scout · Sep 25, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 25newsU.S. Supreme Court leaves Missouri's 2022 congressional map in place for 2026 election
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled to keep Missouri's 2022 congressional map in place for the 2026 election cycle rather than the replacement map enacted in 2025. Wellman told St. Louis Public Radio that running under the 2022 map, which includes portions of St. Louis, St. Charles and Warren counties and all of Franklin County, was helpful to his campaign.
Supreme Court settles Missouri Congressional map dispute · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 14pollRemington Research poll shows Wellman and Wagner in statistical tie in MO-02
A Remington Research Group poll conducted September 14–15 of 565 respondents showed incumbent Republican Ann Wagner at 43% and Wellman at 42%, with Libertarian Brandon Daugherty at 3% and 12% undecided. The margin of error was ±4.1 percentage points, making the race a statistical tie.
Poll shows Wagner in statistical tie with Democratic challenger · Sep 26, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 4newsWellman wins Democratic primary in MO-02, defeating Joan VonDras by ~3 points
Fred Wellman won the Democratic primary for Missouri's 2nd Congressional District, defeating Joan VonDras by approximately three percentage points, securing his place as the Democratic nominee against incumbent Rep. Ann Wagner.
Democratic candidate Wellman chides Rep. Wagner for her support of Iran war · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Veterans for Responsible Leadership organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Nikki Budzinski officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Jason Crow officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Chris Murphy officialU.S. Senator; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Ted Lieu officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Jim McGovern officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Jared Huffman officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Teresa Leger Fernández officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Pat Ryan officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Ro Khanna officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Adam Smith officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Eugene Vindman officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- United Food & Commercial Workers 655 unionListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Unite Here Local 74 unionListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 unionListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- International Association of Ironworkers District Council of St. Louis and Vicinity unionListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Doug Beck officialMissouri state legislator; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Ray Reed officialMissouri state legislator; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Jess Piper officialFormer Missouri Democrat; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Nicole Greer officialState representative-elect; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Rabbi Daniel Bogard otherListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Patriot PAC organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Vote Vets organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Common Defense organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Defeat Extremists organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Population Connection Action Fund organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- The Steady State organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Sierra Club organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Moms For Missouri organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- End Citizens United organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Workers #1 unionListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Building & Construction Trades Council Saint Louis unionListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- LiUNA! Missouri and Kansas Laborers District Council unionListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters Joint Council 13 unionListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers Region 4 unionListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Chris Deluzio officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Jason Kander officialFormer Missouri Secretary of State; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- LaDonna Applebaum officialMissouri state legislator; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Mark Boyko officialMissouri state legislator; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Michael Burton officialMissouri state legislator; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Lisa Clancy officialSt. Louis County Councilwoman; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Joe Pereles otherListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Serve America PAC organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- J Street PAC organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Andy Kim officialU.S. Senator; listed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Abortion Action Missouri organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Democrats Work For America organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Center for Freethought Equality organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Moms Demand Action organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Committee to Protect Healthcare organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund organizationListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers unionListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- International Union of Operating Engineers 513 unionListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- Communications Workers of America Local 6300 unionListed on campaign endorsement page. wellmanformo.com
- American Federation of Government Employees unionEndorsement announced August 28, 2026 per AFGE press release. afge.org · Aug 28, 2026
- COPE organizationCampaign press center identifies Wellman as COPE-endorsed in an item dated July 30, 2026; no separate endorsement date given. wellmanformo.com · Jul 30, 2026
- Missouri AFL-CIO unionEndorsed Wellman for the Democratic primary per a St. Louis/Southern Illinois Labor Tribune article dated June 4, 2026; also listed as general election endorser. moaflcio.org · Jun 4, 2026
- Jill Schupp officialFormer Missouri state senator; endorsed at a November 11, 2025 event, covered November 13, 2025. wellmanformo.com · Nov 11, 2025
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $1.16M
- Spent
- $914K
- Cash on hand
- $242K
As of Jul 15, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6MO02343(opens in a new tab)
Sources 12
- [1] Frederick Wellman (D) – MO-02 House 2026 | Smarter.Vote(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
- [2] Policy | Fred Wellman For Missouri(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [3] Democratic candidate Wellman chides Rep. Wagner for her support of Iran war(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [4] Missouri AFL-CIO 2026 General Election Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [5] Press Center | Fred Wellman For Missouri(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [6] Supreme Court settles Missouri Congressional map dispute(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [7] Transcript: Fred Wellman's interview on KSDK's Today in St ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 27, 2026
- [8] Poll shows Wagner in statistical tie with Democratic challenger(opens in a new tab) Sep 26, 2026
- [9] MOScout Daily Update: CD-2 Poll and What It Means - Mosley’s Defamation Suit - The Hit on Fogle? and more… — Missouri Scout(opens in a new tab) Sep 25, 2026
- [10] Endorsements | Fred Wellman For Missouri(opens in a new tab) Sep 22, 2026
- [11] Policy | Fred Wellman For Missouri — Wellman For Missouri(opens in a new tab) Sep 12, 2026
- [12] Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Missouri's Fred ...(opens in a new tab) Aug 28, 2026