Cori Bush Biography – Cori Bush is an American politician, nurse, pastor, and activist. She was born on 21 July 1976 in St. Louis, Missouri.
She served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2021 to 2025. She represented Missouri’s 1st congressional district.
She was the first Black woman and first nurse from Missouri to serve in Congress.
Cori Bush Biography
Cori Bush was born on 21 July 1976. She is an American politician, nurse and pastor. She also worked as a Black Lives Matter activist.
She served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2021 to 2025. Cori is a member of the Democratic Party. She was first elected to Congress in 2020.
She defeated Lacy Clay in the Democratic primary. She had also run against him in 2018. Her 2018 campaign was shown in the Netflix documentary Knock Down the House.
Cori was the first Black woman from Missouri to serve in the U.S. House. She won re-election in 2022. In 2024, she lost the Democratic primary to Wesley Bell.
She ran again in 2026. She lost to Bell again in the primary.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Cori Anika Bush |
| Date of Birth | July 21, 1976 |
| Birthplace | St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Politician, Nurse, Pastor, and Activist |
| Political Party | Democratic Party |
| U.S. House Service | 2021–2025 |
| District | Missouri’s 1st Congressional District |
| Known For | First Black woman and first nurse from Missouri to serve in Congress |
| Husband | Cortney Merritts |
| Children | Two |
Cori Bush Family
Cori Bush is married to Cortney Merritts. He is a security specialist and a U.S. Army veteran. They got married in February 2023.
Merritts had also worked as a security specialist for Bush’s campaign. Merritts faced federal wire fraud charges related to pandemic relief funds.
The charges involved applications for government loans in 2020 and 2021.
| Family Member | Details |
|---|---|
| Father | Errol Bush |
| Father’s Profession | Local politician in Missouri |
| Husband | Cortney Merritts |
| Husband’s Profession | Security specialist and U.S. Army veteran |
| Marriage | February 2023 |
| Children | Two |
Cori Bush Career
Cori Bush started a church in St. Louis in 2011. She served as its pastor until 2014. She became a political activist during the 2014 Ferguson unrest.
She worked as a nurse and organizer during that time. Cori later became a Nonviolence 365 Ambassador. She also entered politics.
In 2016, she ran for the U.S. Senate from Missouri. She finished second in the Democratic primary.
Cori Bush Net Worth
Cori earned about $174,000 per year as a member of the U.S. House. She represented Missouri’s 1st congressional district.
She worked as a nurse and pastor before Congress. She also earned some money from book royalties. Her overall income was modest compared to many members of Congress.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Congressional Salary | About $174,000 per year |
| Main Careers | Politician, nurse, pastor, and activist |
| Other Income | Book royalties |
| Congressional District | Missouri’s 1st Congressional District |
Cori Bush Early Life
Cori was born on 21 July 1976 in St. Louis. She graduated from Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School in 1994.
Her father, Errol Bush, is a local politician in Missouri. Cori studied at Harris–Stowe State University for one year. She later worked at a preschool.
She earned a nursing diploma from the Lutheran School of Nursing in year 2008.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Born | July 21, 1976 |
| Birthplace | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Father | Errol Bush |
| High School | Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School |
| High School Graduation | 1994 |
| University | Harris-Stowe State University |
| University Attendance | 1995–1996 |
| Early Work | Worked at a preschool |
| Nursing Education | Lutheran School of Nursing |
| Nursing Diploma | 2008 |
Cori Bush Education
Cori graduated from Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School in 1994. She attended Harris-Stowe State University from 1995 to 1996.
She earned a nursing diploma from the Lutheran School of Nursing in year 2008.
| Institution | Details |
|---|---|
| Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School | Graduated in 1994 |
| Harris-Stowe State University | Attended from 1995 to 1996 |
| Lutheran School of Nursing | Earned a nursing diploma in 2008 |
Cori Bush Personal Life
Cori lives in St. Louis, Missouri. She has two children. She and her family faced homelessness in year 2001.
They lived in their car for about three months after losing their home. Cori married Cortney Merritts in February 2023.
He is a security specialist and U.S. Army veteran. In 2026, a federal judge dismissed a fraud case against Merritts. A jury had failed to reach a decision in the case.
Cori has also spoken about her experience during pregnancy. She has raised concerns about the treatment of Black women during childbirth.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Marital Status | Married |
| Husband | Cortney Merritts |
| Marriage Year | 2023 |
| Children | Two |
| Residence | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Homelessness Experience | Lived in a car with her family for about three months in 2001 |
| Activism | Worked on racial justice and social issues |
Cori Bush Achievements
Cori is an American politician, nurse, pastor, and activist. She served in the U.S. House from 2021 to 2025. She represented Missouri’s 1st congressional district.
She became the first Black woman and first nurse from Missouri to serve in Congress. She started her political work through racial justice movements.
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| Historic Achievement | First Black woman from Missouri to serve in the U.S. House |
| Nursing Achievement | First nurse from Missouri to serve in Congress |
| Political Career | Served in the U.S. House from 2021 to 2025 |
| Activism | Became involved in racial justice activism after the Ferguson unrest |
| 2018 Campaign | Featured in the Netflix documentary Knock Down the House |
| 2020 Election | Defeated Lacy Clay in the Democratic primary |
| 2022 Election | Won re-election to the U.S. House |
FAQ – Cori Bush Biography
1. Who is Cori Bush?
Cori Bush is an politician, nurse, pastor and activist.
2. When was Cori Bush born?
Cori was born on 21 July 1976.
3. When did Cori Bush serve in Congress?
She serves in the U.S. House from year 2021 to 2025.
4. Who is Cori Bush husband?
Cori Bush husband name is Cortney Merritts.
5. What is Cori Bush known for?
She was the first Black woman and nurse from Missouri to serve in Congress.
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