Bobby Rush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bobby Rush
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 1st district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Hayes |
| Chicago City Alderman for the 2nd Ward |
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| In office 1983–1993 |
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| Preceded by | William Barnett |
| Succeeded by | Madeline Haithcock |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Bobby Lee Rush
November 23, 1946 Albany, Georgia, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Sandra Milan
(m. 1967; div. 1974) Carolyn Thomas
(m. 1981; died 2017) |
| Children | 7 |
| Residence | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Roosevelt University (B.G.S.) University of Illinois at Chicago (M.A.) McCormick Seminary (M.A.) Illinois Institute of Technology (Ph.D.) |
| Occupation | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1963–1968 |
Bobby Lee Rush (born November 23, 1946) is an American politician, civil rights leader and pastor. Rush is the U.S. Representative for IL's 1st congressional district. He was first elected in 1992 and took office in 1993. The district was located in the South Side of Chicago.
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' 1st congressional district.
A civil rights activist during the 1960s, Rush became radicalized for a period and founded the Illinois chapter of the Black Panthers.
In 1999, Rush ran for Mayor of Chicago, but lost in the Democratic primary to incumbent Richard M. Daley.
In 2015, Rush endorsed Mayor Rahm Emanuel in Emanuel's run-off reelection campaign against Jesus "Chuy" Garcia.
