[Retiring at end of current term.] Cheri Bustos, who represents a big rural district with major exporters, is one of her party’s leading ambassadors for middle America. She’s known for her outreach to constituents, including seeking them out on weekends at grocery stores and joining them for a day at their jobs. Bustos began her career in journalism and worked almost two decades as an editor and reporter. She was elected in 2007 to the East Moline city council and re-elected in 2011. In 2008, she became vice president of communications at Iowa Health System.

Learn what Cheri Bustos says about finding common ground