‘Will they choose the party of health care or the party of drinking bleach?’ Architect of 2018 House flip on making it even more blue

People are ready for change, congresswoman Cheri Bustos tells Andrew Buncombe

Cheri Bustos has often pitched herself as a bridge between different wings of her party (Getty)

Two years ago, congresswoman Cheri Bustos helped spearhead the Democrats’ retaking of the House of Representatives.

It was a notable win in several ways. The 40 seats the party gained by winning back women voters and those in the suburbs who had gone for the Republicans in 2016, was the largest since flip since 1974. It led to the most diverse chamber the nation had seen – more women, more people of colour, more members of the LBGTQ community.

This year, Bustos is looking for more wins. She believes the circumstances in the country are ripe to secure the presidency, retake the Senate and add more members in the House.