Bustos Announces Bid for Assistant Democratic Leader if Dems Win the House
In an appearance on Morning Joe this week, Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) announced her intention to run for Assistant Democratic Leader if the Democrats take back the House in November. This would be the number four post in the party’s Leadership.
In announcing her intention to run, Bustos highlighted her vision for building a lasting Democratic Majority, something that has eluded Democrats over the past decade. Bustos is the only Midwesterner and the only Trump-District Democrat currently in elected Democratic Leadership.
Bustos outlined her vision in a letter to the members of the Democratic Caucus on Monday.
“As Democrats, our strength has always come from our diversity and, if we win in November, I intend to run for Assistant Democratic Leader with a focus on protecting a new Democratic majority beyond the 2020 cycle so we can deliver bold change for the American people,” said Bustos.
Congresswoman Bustos currently serves as a Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC). In this capacity, Bustos partnered with Reps. Hakeem Jeffries and David Cicilline to develop the House Democrats’ “For the People” agenda.
“My vision for this role will be to engage the entire Caucus to support one another, but particularly our new and most vulnerable members. We will achieve this by sharing best practices and tactics across districts, whether they be urban, suburban or rural. By fighting for the core Democratic values that unite us while holding President Trump accountable next year, we will achieve a strong, diverse and lasting Democratic majority,” added Bustos.
Bustos was first elected in 2012 when she defeated an incumbent Republican in the largely rural and blue-collar 17th Congressional District of Illinois. In each subsequent election, she has increased her margin of victory by staying focused on the kitchen table issues facing hardworking families from her district. In 2016, she won reelection by 20 points despite the district making an 18-point swing from President Obama in 2012 to President Trump in 2016.
Rep. David Cicilline, who is currently serving his fourth term representing Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District and serves as Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee alongside Bustos, has also announced his candidacy for the position.
