Biography

Cori Anika Bush was born on July 21, 1976, in St. Louis, Missouri, where she has spent her life as a nurse, pastor, community activist, and politician. She attended Harris-Stowe State University and trained as a registered nurse at the Lutheran School of Nursing. She is also an ordained pastor and has spoken internationally on nonviolent conflict as a Nonviolence 365 Ambassador with the King Center.

Bush rose to national prominence as an activist in the Ferguson uprising of 2014, when she was among the protesters in the streets demanding accountability after the killing of Michael Brown Jr. Her 2018 campaign for Congress was featured in the acclaimed Netflix documentary Knock Down the House, which also followed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Though she lost in 2018, she ran again in 2020 and won — becoming the first Black congresswoman in Missouri history.

In Congress from 2021 to 2025, Bush was a proud member of 'the Squad' and of the Democratic Socialists of America. She fought for Medicare for All, housing as a human right, student debt cancellation, and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel. She famously slept on the Capitol steps to extend the eviction moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic, a solo vigil that drew national attention and ultimately succeeded.

In 2024, Bush lost her Democratic primary to Wesley Bell — then the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney — in a race flooded with nearly $9.3 million in spending from AIPAC's affiliated super PAC, the United Democracy Project. She is now running to reclaim her seat, with the endorsement of Bernie Sanders, Our Revolution, Justice Democrats, and National Nurses United. She is married to Cortney Merritts and has two children.

2026 House Campaign

Bush announced her comeback bid in October 2025, declaring: 'I'm running again because St. Louis deserves leadership that doesn't wait for permission, doesn't answer to wealthy donors, and doesn't hide when things get tough.' The race sets up a high-profile rematch with incumbent Rep. Wesley Bell in a Democratic primary scheduled for August 4, 2026.

The central tension of the race is the same as 2024: AIPAC's willingness to pour millions into defeating progressive critics of Israel vs. the grassroots organizing power of the left. Bush has made her opposition to that outside spending a defining issue. 'I'm St. Louis Strong,' she says. 'And our movement will fight to deliver for the people of this district.'

Bernie Sanders endorsed Bush in June 2026, saying she 'will fight back against Republican attacks on our fundamental freedoms, and transform our economy, and our government into one that works for everyone, not just the powerful and well-connected.' Other endorsers include Our Revolution, Justice Democrats, St. Louis DSA, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, National Nurses United, UNITE HERE Local 74, MoveOn Political Action, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib.

Medicare for All
Housing as a human right
Workers & unions
End endless wars
Nurses & healthcare workers
Criminal justice reform

In the press