Bobby L. Rush (born November 23, 1946), American politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing the 1st District of Illinois (map). He was born in Albany, Georgia, was educated at Roosevelt University, the University of Illinois and McCormick Theological Seminary (all in Chicago), served in the United States Army from 1963 to 1968, was a member of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, and was an insurance agent and member of the Chicago City Council before entering the House. He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. In 2000, Rush defeated Barack Obama, who was subsequently elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004, in the Democratic primary for his seat. On July 15, 2004, Rush became the second sitting Congressman, after Charles Rangel, to be arrested in as many days for protesting alleged human rights violations at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, DC.
In March, 2006, Rush was co-author, along with conservative congressman Joe Barton, of the controversial Barton-Rush Bill.
