Connie McBurney was born in 1940 in the rural Iowa community of Lacey. McBurney attended public schools in Johnston and Des Moines, and studied nursing and journalism at the University of Iowa. After earning her degree in broadcast communications, McBurney began a 24 year career at KCCI TV-8 as a writer, reporter, producer and chief weather anchor.

A staunch advocate for Iowa communities, she created the Project Mainstreet community development program, and established the Mike Reynolds Journalism Scholarship for Iowa undergraduate students. In 1994 she joined the Blank Children's Hospital, working as a Child Advocate.

In 1996, McBurney announced her candidacy as a Democrat for Congress in Iowa's Fourth District. Her campaign staff included future White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod. Though she earned the Democratic nomination, with 47 percent of votes, she lost the general election to Republican Greg Ganske, who secured 52 percent of votes.