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Bobby L. RushDEMDemocrat American politician
77
Years of Age
39
Years of Experience
ILResidence (state)

Bobby Lee Rush (born November 23, 1946) is an American politician, activist and pastor who served as the U.S. representative for Illinois's 1st congressional district for three decades. A civil rights activist during the 1960s, Rush co-founded the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party.Rush was first elected to Congress in 1992. He won consecutive reelections until his retirement. His district was originally principally on the South Side of Chicago, with a population from 2003 to early 2013 that was 65% African-American, a higher proportion than any other congressional district. In 2011 the Illinois General Assembly redistricted this area after the 2010 census. Although still minority-majority, since early 2013 it is 51.3% African American, 36.1% White, 9.8% Hispanic, and 2% Asian. A member of the Democratic Party, Rush is the only politician to have defeated Barack Obama in an election, which he did in the 2000 Democratic primary for Illinois's 1st congressional district. On January 3, 2022, Rush announced that he was retiring from Congress.

Voterly's Issue Scores  (1 - 30 of 30)

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Special Interest Group Ratings

Interest Groups That SUPPORT
Rating
Interest Groups That OPPOSE
Rating
Average Score

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0 / 30

Campaign Funding

20
18
$386,313
Total Raised
$320,467
Total Spent
$66,640
Cash on Hand
Top Industries  (1 - 4 of 10) View All Industries
99%
Health Professionals$65,000
56%
Electric Utilities$36,500
52%
Telecom Services$34,000
47%
Building Trade Unions$31,000
41%
Lawyers/Law Firms$26,750
38%
Public Sector Unions$25,000
33%
Industrial Unions$21,500
24%
Telephone Utilities$16,000
20%
Oil & Gas$13,000
17%
Securities & Investment$11,022
Direct campaign contributions grouped by the industry industry of each donor/PAC.

Largest Contributors

Funding generally from an organization's PAC or its members/employees. Organizations did not donate directly.
Financial Data Source: Center for Responsive Politics
Education6 - 6 of 4
Roosevelt University
Bachelor of Arts
1974
Marshall High School
McCormick Theological Seminary
Master of Arts
1998
University of Illinois at Chicago
Master of Arts
1994
Past Positions1 - 4 of 4
Representative
United States House of Representatives
1993 - 2023
Member
Chicago City Council
1983 - 1992
Pastor
Beloved Community Christian Church
Current
Private
United States Army
1963 - 1968
Other Experience1 - 60 of 60
Central Committee Member
Illinois State Democratic Party
1990
Deputy Chair
Illinois State Democratic Party
1990
Member
Democratic Committee, Chicago Ward 2
1984
Member
Democratic Committee, Chicago Ward 2
1988
Co-Founder
Illinois Black Panther Party
1968
Member
Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee
1966 - 1968
Coordinator
Free Medical Clinic
Member
Iota Phi Theta
Member
Democratic Whip Organization
United States Delegate
North Atlantic Assembly
Co-Chair
Congressional Biotechnology Caucus
Chair
Community College Caucus
Chair
Congressional Collegiate Sports Caucus
Chair
Congressional Caucus on Access to Capital and Credit
Chair
Congressional Energy Caucus
Chair
Congressional Caucus on Educating, Engaging, and Employing AmericaÂ’s Youth
Former Associate Member
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Former Member
Subcommittee on Energy, United States House of Representatives
Former Member
Congressional Hunger Caucus
Former Member
Congressional Urban Caucus
Former Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, United States House of Representatives
Former Member
Congressional Vietnam-Era Veterans Caucus
Former Member
Subcommittee on Health (Energy and Commerce), United States House of Representatives
Former Member
Communications and Technology Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Former Member
Congressional Postal Caucus
Former Member
Congressional Human Rights Caucus
Former Member
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
Member
Bipartisan Congressional Privacy Caucus
Member
Congressional Caucus on Community Health Centers
Member
Congressional Caucus on Crime Prevention and Youth Development
Member
Congressional Soccer Caucus
Member
House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
Member
Congressional National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Caucus
Member
Congressional Veterans Job Caucus
Member
House Cancer Caucus
Member
Midwest High Speed Rail Congressional Caucus
Member
Congressional Caucus on Green Jobs
Member
Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans
Member
Congressional Direct Selling Caucus
Member
House General Aviation Caucus
Member
Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus
Member
United States-China Working Group
Member
Democratic Study Group
Member
Congressional Bicameral High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Caucus
Member
Congressional Asthma and Allergy Caucus
Member
Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus
Member
Congressional Pakistan Caucus
Member
Congressional Ukrainian Caucus
Member
Great Lakes Task Force
Member
Out of Poverty Caucus
Member
Congressional Diabetes Caucus
Member
Congressional Creative Rights Caucus
Member
Congressional Entertainment Technology Caucus
Member
Congressional Natural Gas Caucus
Member
Northeast Midwest Congressional Coalition, Congressional Task Force on Manufacturing
Member
Northeast Midwest Congressional Coalition, Great Lakes Task Force
Memeber
House Army Caucus
Memeber
Financial and Economic Literacy Caucus
Memeber
Congressional Peace Corps Caucus
Secretary
Congressional Black Caucus