- Date of Birth: July 21, 1976
- Place of Birth: St. Louis, Missouri
Cori Bush is an American politician, registered nurse, pastor, and activist who made history as the first Black woman elected to Congress from Missouri. Known for her outspoken progressive politics and grassroots activism, Bush rose to national prominence after protesting police violence during the 2014 Ferguson uprising following the police killing of Michael Brown.
Born Cori Anika Bush on July 21, 1976, in St. Louis, Missouri, Bush graduated from Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School in 1994. She later studied at Harris–Stowe State University before earning a nursing diploma from the Lutheran School of Nursing in 2008. Before entering politics, Bush worked as a preschool teacher, nurse, and pastor. In 2011, she founded Kingdom Embassy International Church in St. Louis.
Bush became deeply involved in activism during the Ferguson protests, serving as both a street medic and organizer. She later described experiencing police aggression firsthand during demonstrations. Her activism helped launch her political career and established her as a leading voice on racial justice, policing reform, healthcare access, and economic inequality.
In 2016, Bush made her first run for public office, seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in Missouri. Although unsuccessful, she gained national attention two years later when she challenged longtime Congressman Lacy Clay for Missouri’s 1st Congressional District seat. Her insurgent 2018 campaign was featured in the Netflix documentary Knock Down the House alongside future political stars like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Bush lost the 2018 primary but returned in 2020 to defeat Clay in a major political upset, ending the Clay family’s more than 50-year hold on the district. She went on to win the general election overwhelmingly and served in Congress from 2021 to 2025.
During her tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, Bush became a member of “The Squad,” the influential group of progressive lawmakers that included Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib. She advocated for policies including Medicare for All, student debt cancellation, abortion rights, housing protections, voting rights, criminal justice reform, and reallocating police funding toward social services.
Bush drew national attention in 2021 when she slept on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to pressure lawmakers to extend the federal eviction moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic. The action helped intensify public pressure that ultimately contributed to the temporary extension of protections for renters.
She was also one of Congress’s most vocal advocates for a ceasefire during the Israel-Gaza war, introducing a “Ceasefire Now” resolution in 2023. Her criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian human rights made her a target of major pro-Israel lobbying groups, which spent millions to defeat her during the 2024 Democratic primary.
In August 2024, Bush lost her re-election bid to St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell in one of the most expensive House primaries in U.S. history. Despite the defeat, Bush announced in 2025 that she would run again for her former congressional seat in the 2026 midterm elections.
Beyond politics, Bush has spoken openly about personal struggles including homelessness, surviving sexual assault, abortion, and racial disparities in maternal healthcare. Her life story and activism have made her one of the most recognizable progressive Black women in modern American politics.
- Official Website: Cori Bush for Congress
- Instagram: @coribush
- X (formerly Twitter): @CoriBush
- Facebook: Cori Bush on Facebook
- YouTube: @CoriBushForCongress
Her campaign website confirms she is running again for Missouri’s 1st Congressional District in the 2026 election cycle. (coribush.org)
