THE HILL NAMES CONG BUSTOS A RISING DEMOCRATIC STAR

Lindsay Mitchell

Jan 05, 2017  |  Today's News

Congratulations to Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, mentioned in this article by The Hill as one of the ambitious Democrats in the House of Representatives, proving themselves leaders within the party.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi added several positions, giving more Democrats a chance to hone their skills and prove their leadership prowess even when tree individuals have controlled the top Democratic leadership positions for more than a decade.  Among the Congressmen selected for those positions was Cong. Cheri Bustos – who is also the only Midwestern Congressperson in the list.

The Hill:

The new leadership posts Pelosi agreed to create are nearly all filled with lawmakers from coastal states despite calls to embrace regional diversity.

Bustos holds the distinction of being the only one to hail from the Midwest. She will serve as co-chair of the caucus’s messaging arm, known as the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. 

Her first leadership stint will come after serving as vice chair of the House Democratic campaign arm’s recruitment committee. 

Bustos, 55, won reelection for a third term in a largely rural swing district carried by Trump this year. She could offer fellow Democrats a model for reaching out to voters who were drawn to Trump.

“We have been the party of working-class men and women for the entire history of our party,” Bustos told NPR’s Steve Inskeep in a recent interview. “But we've got to go where people are. And we've got to listen.”

Congresswoman Bustos is a member of the House Ag Committee, represents a largely rural district, and has worked with IL Corn Growers Association over her terms in office to make better policy for IL corn farmers.

And if political climate and influence interest you, check out this editorial from The Hill on the influence farmers and the corn belt could have for political hopefuls.