Cori Bush

Cori Bush, born on July 21, 1976, is a prominent American activist, politician, pastor, and nurse. She made history by serving as the U.S. representative for Missouri's 1st congressional district from 2021 to 2025, a district that encompasses all of St. Louis and a significant portion of northern St. Louis County.

A member of the Democratic Party, Bush gained national attention when she defeated ten-term incumbent Lacy Clay in a primary election in 2020, a victory that was widely regarded as an upset. This achievement marked her as the first African-American woman to represent Missouri in the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to this success, she had made two unsuccessful attempts to secure a congressional seat in 2018 and to win the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in 2016.

Bush's activism is well-documented, particularly her involvement with the Black Lives Matter movement. She was featured in the 2019 Netflix documentary 'Knock Down the House,' which chronicled her initial challenge against Clay. During her tenure in Congress, she became a member of the influential group known as 'the Squad.'

In August 2024, Bush faced a significant challenge when she lost the Democratic nomination for her seat to primary challenger Wesley Bell, in a race that garnered considerable media attention. Bell secured fifty-one point one percent of the vote compared to Bush's forty-five point six percent. This election was notably influenced by substantial financial backing from pro-Israel lobbying groups, reflecting the contentious nature of her positions on the Gaza war.