Cheri Bustos
Cheryl Lea Bustos (/ˈbuːstoʊs/ BOOST-ohss; née Callahan; born October 17, 1961) is an American journalist, healthcare executive, and politician who served as the U.S. representative from Illinois's 17th congressional district from 2013 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, she is the first woman elected to Congress from her district in the northwestern part of the state, anchored by the Illinois side of the Quad Cities and partially including Peoria and Rockford. In 2019, Bustos became chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
Cheri Bustos | |
|---|---|
| Co-Chair of the House Democratic Steering Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Rosa DeLauro |
| Succeeded by | Dan Kildee Debbie Wasserman Schultz |
| Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021 | |
| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Ben Ray Luján |
| Succeeded by | Sean Patrick Maloney |
| Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Israel (Chair) |
| Succeeded by |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 17th district | |
| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Bobby Schilling |
| Succeeded by | Eric Sorensen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Cheryl Lea Callahan October 17, 1961 Springfield, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Gerry Bustos |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Joseph R. Callahan (grandfather) |
| Education |
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Elected to the East Moline City Council in 2007, Bustos defeated Republican Party incumbent Bobby Schilling in the 2012 election and a 2014 rematch. In 2021, Bustos and Senator Dick Durbin were the only Democrats in Illinois's congressional delegation who are not from the Chicago area. On April 30, 2021, she announced that she would retire at the end of the 117th U.S. Congress.
In January 2023, the Washington, DC-based public affairs and lobbying firm Mercury Public Affairs announced that Bustos had joined the firm as a consultant.