Episode Details

Cheri Bustos spent almost two decades as a newspaper reporter before entering public life. She served on her city council and then, in 2012, flipped a Republican seat in a working-class stretch of northwest Illinois.

Even when Donald Trump won her district in 2016, Bustos held on to that seat and won by more than 20 points. Her colleagues later chose her to lead the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for the 2020 cycle, where she fought back Republican attacks and protected the Democratic House majority.  Since leaving Congress, Bustos has spent her time thinking hard about how Democrats can win in places where the party usually loses, and what makes them successful.

Sarah McCammon spoke with former Rep. Bustos about why she's keeping an eye on Iowa, how “Supermarket Saturdays” helped her hold on in Trump country, and what Democrats should prioritize if they win back Congress.
 

IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 — Cold open

01:02 — Keep an Eye on Iowa and Making the Midterms Local

04:58 — Recruiting for Swing Districts: Fit, Vetting, and Women Candidates

12:10 — From Journalism to Congress: Health Care and Her Brother's Cancer

15:44 — Holding a District That Swung 17 Points: Supermarket Saturday and Cheri on Shift

21:16 — Affordability at Home: $6.30 Diesel and the Piggly Wiggly

24:25 — Election Night Races to Watch and the Far-Left Trickle-Down Effect

28:39 — Priorities for a Democratic Majority and What She Wants in a Nominee

CREDITS 

Unmoderated is a production of Unmoderated News. Our team is Sarah McCammon, Kate deGruyter, Emily Becker, Janae Morris, David Fanto, Alex Kapelman, Kaitlyn Perez, Amea Thompson, Madison Meyer, Harrison Chinchar, Nathan Harnick, Jack Spilles, Alan Haburchak, and Gemma Waters. Music by Ṭaus al Chalabi.

 

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