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 lost the general election. Before running for Congress, Kelly served as the Cook County chief administrative officer. After winning the Democratic primary,[1] she won the 2013 special election to succeed Jesse Jackson Jr. in the U.S. House of Representatives.[2]
Robin Kelly | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 2nd district | |
| Assumed office April 11, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Jesse Jackson Jr. |
| Chair of the Illinois Democratic Party | |
| In office March 3, 2021 – July 30, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Madigan |
| Succeeded by | Elizabeth Hernandez |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 38th district | |
| In office January 8, 2003 – January 12, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Harold Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Al Riley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robin Lynne Kelly April 30, 1956 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nathaniel Horn (m. 2003; died 2023) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Bradley University (BA, MA) Northern Illinois University (PhD) |
| Website | House website |
Early life and education edit
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] where she was a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority. 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]
Kelly earned her Ph.D. in political science from Northern Illinois University in 2004.[4]
Early career edit
From 1992 through 2006, Kelly served as a director of community affairs in Matteson.[4]
Illinois House of Representatives edit
Elections edit
In 2002, Kelly defeated 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 reelection to a second term, defeating Republican Jack McInerney, 86%–14%.[6] In 2006, she won reelection to a third term unopposed.[7]
Committee assignments edit
- Appropriations-Human Services
- Housing & Urban Development
- International Trade & Commerce
- Local Government
- Mass Transit (Vice Chair)
- Para-transit
- Whole[8]
State and county government edit
In January 2007, Kelly 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.[9] Kelly was appointed Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle's chief administrative officer in 2011.
2010 Illinois treasurer election edit
In 2010, Kelly ran for Illinois treasurer. In the Democratic primary, she defeated founding member and senior executive of the Transportation Security Administration Justin Oberman, 58%–42%. She won most of the counties in the state, including Cook County with 59% of the vote.[10][11]
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%).[12]
U.S. House of Representatives edit
2013 congressional election edit
Kelly entered the field for Illinois's 2nd congressional district after Democrat Jesse Jackson Jr. resigned 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.[13]
On February 13, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky endorsed Kelly.[14] 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 position on gun control. She was also endorsed by the Chicago Tribune.[15] On February 17, State Senator Toi Hutchinson decided to drop out to endorse Kelly.
On February 26, Kelly won the Democratic primary in the heavily Democratic, black-majority district with 52% of the vote.[16][17] In the April 9 general election, she defeated Republican community activist Paul McKinley and a variety of independent candidates with around 71% of the vote.[2]
Tenure edit
Kelly took office on April 9, 2013,[4] and was sworn in on April 11.[18]
Committee assignments edit
For the 118th Congress:[19]
Caucus memberships edit
Political positions edit
Kelly voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.[22]
Syria edit
In 2023, Kelly was among 56 Democrats to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[23][24]
Personal life edit
Kelly lives in Matteson in the home she shared with her husband Nathaniel Horn until his death in August 2023.[3] Kelly is a Nondenominational Protestant.[25]
Electoral history edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robin Kelly | 10,870 | 56.04 | |
| Democratic | Harold Murphy (incumbent) | 8,526 | 43.96 | |
| Total votes | 19,396 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robin Kelly | 26,739 | 80.95 | |
| Republican | Catherine (Kitty) Watson | 6,292 | 19.05 | |
| Total votes | 33,031 | 100.0 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robin Kelly (incumbent) | 41,837 | 86.15 | |
| Republican | Jack McInerney | 6,727 | 13.85 | |
| Total votes | 48,564 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robin Kelly (incumbent) | 30,862 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 30,862 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robin Kelly | 472,494 | 57.92 | |
| Democratic | Justin P. Oberman | 343,307 | 42.08 | |
| Total votes | 815,801 | 100.0 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robin Kelly (incumbent) | 80,659 | 82.05 | |
| Democratic | Marcus Lewis | 17,640 | 17.95 | |
| Total votes | 98,299 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robin Kelly (incumbent) | 190,684 | 81.06 | |
| Republican | David Merkle | 44,567 | 18.94 | |
| Total votes | 235,251 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robin Kelly (incumbent) | 234,896 | 78.81 | |
| Republican | Theresa Raborn | 63,142 | 21.19 | |
| Total votes | 298,038 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robin Kelly (incumbent) | 140,414 | 67.1 | |
| Republican | Thomas Lynch | 68,761 | 32.9 | |
| Total votes | 209,175 | 100.0 | ||
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Isenstadt, Alex (February 26, 2013). "Kelly wins amid Bloomberg ad blitz". Politico. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ a b "Illinois Special Election Results". Politico.
- ^ a b c d Skiba, Katherine (April 14, 2013). "Robin Kelly hopes to change legacy of 2nd District seat". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ a b c d e "Kelly, Robin L." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ "IL State House 038 Race". Our Campaigns. November 5, 2002. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
- ^ "IL State House 038 Race". Our Campaigns. November 2, 2004. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
- ^ "IL State House 038 Race". Our Campaigns. November 7, 2006. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
- ^ "Illinois General Assembly – Senator Biography". Ilga.gov. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
- ^ "Illinois Races: Robin Kelly Running for State Treasurer". nbcchicago.com. November 2, 2009. from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
- ^ "IL Treasurer – D Primary Race". Our Campaigns. February 2, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
- ^ . Elections.chicagotribune.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "IL Treasurer Race". Our Campaigns. November 2, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ^ McClelland, Edward (February 13, 2013). "Jan Schakowsky Endorses Robin Kelly". NBC Chicago. from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
- ^ "Bloomberg PAC endorses Robin Kelly in new Illinois special election ad". Washingtonpost.com. from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
- ^ "Robin Kelly wins rival Toi Hutchinson's support in Illinois race". Politico.com. February 19, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
- ^ "Illinois Special Election Results 2013 – District Results, Live Updates". Politico.com. April 11, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
- ^ [1] April 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Robin L. Kelly". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ "Membership". Congressional Black Caucus. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ^ @GideonResnick (July 19, 2018). "Up to 70 members now" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Bycoffe, Aaron; Wiederkehr, Anna (April 22, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ "H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023".
- ^ "House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria". Associated Press. March 8, 2023.
- ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center. January 3, 2023.
- ^ "Election Results 2002 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Election Results 2002 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Election Results 2004 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ "Election Results 2004 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Election Results 2006 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ . Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ . Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ "Election Results 2013 SPECIAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ "Election Results 2013 SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ "Election Results 2014 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ . Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ . Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ . Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ . Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
External links edit
- Congresswoman Robin Kelly official U.S. House website
- Robin Kelly for Congress
- Robin Kelly at Curlie
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN