Illinois 17th District U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos has been considered a rising star in the Democratic party and today (Thursday) she took the next step in the climbing her caucus’ leadership ladder.Bustos was elected Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, a position that oversees Democrats’ effort to get candidates elected and re-elected to Congress.
She was elected on the first secret ballot taken by House Democrats in a closed door meeting Thursday morning.
The East Moline resident defeated Washington representatives Suzan DelBene and Denny Heck on the first ballot.
The tally was 117 votes for Bustos, with Heck at 83 and DelBene at 32.
Sean Patrick Maloney of New York was originally slated to run as well but dropped out due to a bacterial infection he was hospitalized for.
In making the case for herself to lead the DCCC, Bustos argued that the party leads more leadership from Middle-America, which was a crucial battleground in Donald Trump’s 2016 electoral victory as well as in Democrats’ taking the House in 2018.
She said following her victory Bustos emphasized her job is to “fortify” the new Democratic majority.
The focus she says should be on getting “real results” for Americans by lowering healthcare costs, raising wages, and “cracking down on corruption we’ve seen from Washington Republicans.”
Bustos is only the second woman to head the DCCC, after Rep. Nita Lowey of New York lead from 2001-03.
Other prominent Democrats that have held the job include, Tip O’Neil, Rahm Emanuel and Steve Israel.
There had been reporting that critics of Nancy Pelosi urged Bustos to mount a challenge for Speaker of the House.
But Bustos had voiced her support for Pelosi and there doesn’t seem to be any indication she ever considered a run for speaker.
