How Bobby Rush went from Black Panther to Congressman

Rep. Bobby Rush has represented Illinois’ 1st District since 1993. His path to Congress was more unconventional than many of his peers’. He was co-founder of the Illinois Black Panther Party, an alderman, and eventually, the only person to ever beat Barack Obama in an election. He’s been an advocate of racial justice, but hasn’t been without controversy in the district. Rush is not running for reelection this year, paving the way for a younger candidate to step in to lead a district that includes not only Chicago’s South Side, but also rural areas like Frankfort and Mokena. Chicago Sun-Times columnist and ABC 7 commentator Laura Washington tells us about Rush’s legacy and what the race for his seat could look like.

Guest:

Laura Washington — Chicago Sun-Times columnist and ABC 7 political commentator

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