Cori Bush

Cori Anika Bush (born July21, 1976) is an American politician, registered nurse, pastor, and activist. Bush was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri's 1st congressional district from 2021 to 2025. She is a member of the Democratic Party. 

On August 4, 2020, she beat 10-term incumbent Lacy Clay in the 2020 U.S. House of Representatives primary election. She won the general election in November 2020. Bush is the first African American woman to represent Missouri in the United States Congress.

In 2024, she lost her re-election campaign for the Democratic nomination to Wesley Bell. Pro-Israel lobbying groups in the U.S. had spent large amounts to defeat Bush because of her pro-Palestine views during the Gaza war.

Early life
Bush was born on July 21, 1976, in St. Louis, Missouri. Her father, Errol Bush, is an alderman and former mayor in Northwoods, Missouri. In the summer of 1994, at 18 years old, Bush became pregnant after being raped and had an abortion. A year later, she had a second abortion when she was 19 years old.

Bush studied at Harris–Stowe State University for one year and worked at a preschool until 2001. She earned a Diploma in Nursing from the Lutheran School of Nursing in 2008.

U.S. House of Representatives
Soon after being sworn in, Bush was seen as a member of "The Squad", an informal left-wing grouping in the Democratic caucus. She posted a photo on Twitter of herself, the four original Squad members, and another new member, Jamaal Bowman, with the caption "Squad up."

During her time in congress, Bush had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 93.0% of the time.

 Personal life 
Bush lives in St. Louis, Missouri. She has two children and has been married twice. 

In February 2023, Bush married Cortney Merritts, a security specialist and U.S. Army veteran. (Archive has free access.)

References

Other websites

 Representative Cori Bush  official U.S. House website
 Campaign website




Category:1976 births
Category:Living people
Category:American political activists
Category:United States representatives from Missouri
Category:Politicians from St. Louis, Missouri
Category:Democratic Party (United States) politicians
Category:African-American politicians