Robin Kelly

Robin Lynne Kelly (born April 30, 1956) is an American politician from Illinois who has served as the U.S. Representative from Illinois's 2nd congressional district since 2013. A Democrat, Kelly served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007. She then served as chief of staff for Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias until 2010. She was the 2010 Democratic nominee for State Treasurer, but was defeated in the general election. Prior to running for Congress, Kelly served as the Cook County chief administrative officer.

Robin Kelly
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 2nd district
Assumed office
April 11, 2013
Preceded byJesse Jackson Jr.
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 38th district
In office
January 8, 2003 – January 12, 2007
Preceded byHarold Murphy
Succeeded byAl Riley
Personal details
Born
Robin Lynne Kelly

(1956-04-30) April 30, 1956
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Nathaniel Horn
​
(m. 2003)​
Children2
EducationBradley University (BA, MA)
Northern Illinois University (PhD)

After winning the Democratic primary,[1] Kelly won the 2013 special election to succeed Jesse Jackson Jr. in the U.S. House of Representatives.[2]

Early life, education, and early political career

The daughter of a grocer, Robin Lynne Kelly was born in Harlem[3] on April 30, 1956.[4] Hoping to become a child psychologist, she attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois,[3] and is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority through the Zeta Phi Chapter. At Bradley, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in psychology (1977/1978) and her Master of Arts in counseling (1982).[4] While in Peoria she directed a "crisis nursery" and worked in a hospital.[3]

From 1992 through 2006 she served as a Director of Community Affairs in Matteson.[4] She earned her Ph.D. in political science from Northern Illinois University (2004).[4]

Illinois House of Representatives (2003–2007)

Elections

In 2002, Kelly decided to challenge a ten-year incumbent Illinois state representative in the Democratic primary. In November, she defeated Republican Kitty Watson 81%–19%[5]

In 2004, she won re-election to a second term, defeating Republican Jack McInerney, 86%–14%.[6] In 2006, she won re-election to a third term unopposed.[7]

Committee assignments
  • Appropriations-Human Services
  • Housing & Urban Development
  • International Trade & Commerce
  • Local Government
  • Mass Transit (Vice-Chairman)
  • Para-transit
  • Whole[8]

Inter-legislative years (2007–2013)
See also: 2010 Illinois elections § Treasurer

In January 2007, she resigned her house seat to become Chief of Staff to Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. She was the first African-American woman to serve as chief of staff to an elected constitutional statewide officeholder. Robin was appointed to become chief administrative officer for Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle in 2011.

In 2010, Kelly ran for Illinois Treasurer. In the Democratic primary, she defeated founding member and senior executive of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Justin Oberman, 58%–42%. She won most of the counties in the state, including Cook County with 59% of the vote.[9][10]

In the November general election, Republican State Senator Dan Rutherford defeated her 50%–45%. She won just six of the state's 102 counties: Cook (62%), Alexander (52%), Gallatin (51%), St. Clair (50%), Calhoun (49%), and Rock Island (48%) counties.[11]

U.S. House of Representatives
Kelly's first Congressional portrait (113th congress)

2013 congressional election
Main article: 2013 Illinois's 2nd congressional district special election

Kelly entered the field for Illinois's 2nd congressional district after Democrat Jesse Jackson Jr. resigned just three weeks after being elected to a tenth term. On February 11, 2013, two Chicago-based Democratic congressmen, Bobby Rush and Danny K. Davis, endorsed her.[12]

On February 13, U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky endorsed Kelly.[13] A few days later, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed her and committed $2 million in TV ads supporting her by highlighting Kelly's opposition to the National Rifle Association. She was also endorsed by the Chicago Tribune.[14] On February 17, State Senator Toi Hutchinson decided to drop out to endorse Kelly.

On February 26, she won the Democratic primary in the heavily Democratic, black-majority district with 52% of the vote.[15][16] In the April 9th general election, she defeated Republican community activist Paul McKinley and a variety of independent candidates with around 71% of the vote.[2]

Tenure

Kelly took office on April 9, 2013,[4] and was sworn in on April 11, 2013.[17]

Committee assignments
U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Ed Royce, members Steve Chabot and Robin Kelly in 2017 celebrate legislation to help educate more girls

Caucus memberships

Personal life

Kelly lives in Matteson with her husband, Nathaniel Horn.

Electoral history
Illinois 38th State House District Democratic Primary, 2002[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robin Kelly 10,870 56.04
Democratic Harold Murphy (incumbent) 8,526 43.96
Total votes 19,396 100.0
Illinois 38th State House District General Election, 2002[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robin Kelly 26,739 80.95
Republican Catherine (Kitty) Watson 6,292 19.05
Total votes 33,031 100.0
Illinois 38th State House District Democratic Primary, 2004[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robin Kelly (incumbent) 16,028 81.74
Democratic Jonathan J. Jordan 3,580 18.26
Total votes 19,608 100.0
Illinois 38th State House District General Election, 2004[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robin Kelly (incumbent) 41,837 86.15
Republican Jack McInerney 6,727 13.85
Total votes 48,564 100.0
Illinois 38th State House District General Election, 2006[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robin Kelly (incumbent) 30,862 100.0
Total votes 30,862 100.0
Illinois State Treasurer Democratic Primary, 2010[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robin Kelly 472,494 57.92
Democratic Justin P. Oberman 343,307 42.08
Total votes 815,801 100.0
Illinois State Treasurer General Election, 2010[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Rutherford 1,811,293 49.68
Democratic Robin Kelly 1,650,244 45.26
Green Scott K. Summers 115,772 3.18
Libertarian James Pauly 68,803 1.89
Total votes 3,646,112 100.0
Illinois 2nd Congressional District Special Democratic Primary, 2013[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robin Kelly 31,079 53.27
Democratic Deborah "Debbie" Halvorson 14,650 25.11
Democratic Anthony A. Beale 6,457 11.07
Democratic Joyce W. Washington 2,563 4.39
Democratic Ernest B. Fenton 1,545 2.65
Democratic Anthony W. Williams 641 1.10
Democratic Mel "Mr" Reynolds 459 0.79
Democratic Clifford J. Eagleton 207 0.35
Democratic Fatimah N. Muhammad 194 0.33
Democratic Gregory Haynes 144 0.25
Democratic Larry D. Pickens 127 0.22
Democratic John Blyth 104 0.18
Democratic Victor Jonathan 91 0.16
Democratic Charles Rayburn 74 0.13
Democratic Denise Anita Hill 4 0.01
Total votes 58,339 100.0
Illinois 2nd Congressional District Special General Election, 2013[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robin Kelly 58,834 70.72
Republican Paul McKinley 18,387 22.10
Independent Elizabeth "Liz" Pahlke 2,525 3.04
Green LeAlan M. Jones 1,531 1.84
Independent Marcus Lewis 1,359 1.63
Independent Curtiss Llong Bey 548 0.66
Write-in votes Steve Piekarczyk 9 0.01
Total votes 83,193 100.0
Illinois 2nd Congressional District General Election, 2014[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robin Kelly (incumbent) 160,337 78.49
Republican Eric M. Wallace 43,799 21.44
Write-in votes Marcus Lewis 130 0.06
Total votes 204,266 100.0
Illinois 2nd Congressional District Democratic Primary, 2016[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robin Kelly (incumbent) 115,752 73.92
Democratic Marcus Lewis 25,280 16.14
Democratic Charles Rayburn 9,559 6.10
Democratic Dorian C.L. Myrickes 6,002 3.83
Total votes 156,593 100.0
Illinois 2nd Congressional District General Election, 2016[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robin Kelly (incumbent) 235,051 79.81
Republican John F Morrow 59,471 20.19
Total votes 294,522 100.0
Illinois 2nd Congressional District Democratic Primary, 2018[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robin Kelly (incumbent) 80,659 82.05
Democratic Marcus Lewis 17,640 17.95
Total votes 98,299 100.0
Illinois 2nd Congressional District General Election, 2018[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robin Kelly (incumbent) 190,684 81.06
Republican David Merkle 44,567 18.94
Total votes 235,251 100.0

See also

References
  1. Isenstadt, Alex (February 26, 2013). "Kelly wins amid Bloomberg ad blitz". Politico. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  2. "Illinois Special Election Results". Politico.
  3. Skiba, Katherine (April 14, 2013). "Robin Kelly hopes to change legacy of 2nd District seat". Chicago Tribune.
  4. "Kelly, Robin L." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  5. "IL State House 038 Race". Our Campaigns. November 5, 2002. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  6. "IL State House 038 Race". Our Campaigns. November 2, 2004. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  7. "IL State House 038 Race". Our Campaigns. November 7, 2006. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  8. "Illinois General Assembly – Senator Biography". Ilga.gov. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  9. "IL Treasurer – D Primary Race". Our Campaigns. February 2, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  10. "2012 General Election Results: U.S. President". Elections.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  11. "IL Treasurer Race". Our Campaigns. November 2, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  12. Paicely, Christopher (February 11, 2013). "Congressmen Davis and Rush Endorse Robin Kelly: 2nd District Race – Government – Chicago Heights, IL Patch". Chicagoheights.patch.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  13. McClelland, Edward (February 13, 2013). "Jan Schakowsky Endorses Robin Kelly". NBC Chicago. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  14. "Bloomberg PAC endorses Robin Kelly in new Illinois special election ad". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  15. "Robin Kelly wins rival Toi Hutchinson's support in Illinois race". Politico.com. February 19, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  16. "Illinois Special Election Results 2013 – District Results, Live Updates". Politico.com. April 11, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  17. Archived April 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  18. "Membership". Congressional Black Caucus. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  19. "Election Results 2002 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  20. "Election Results 2002 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  21. "Election Results 2004 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  22. "Election Results 2004 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  23. "Election Results 2006 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  24. "Election Results 2010 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  25. "Election Results 2010 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  26. "Election Results 2013 SPECIAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  27. "Election Results 2013 SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  28. "Election Results 2014 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  29. "Election Results 2016 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  30. "Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  31. "Election Results 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  32. "Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Jesse Jackson Jr.		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 2nd congressional district
2013–present		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Roger Williams		 United States Representatives by seniority
202nd		 Succeeded by
Jason T. Smith
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