Robin Kelly

Robin Kelly
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office April 11, 2013
Preceded by	Jesse Jackson Jr.
Chair of the Illinois Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office March 3, 2021
Preceded by	Michael Madigan
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 (1956-04-30) April 30, 1956 (age 65) New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Nathaniel Horn ​ (m. 2003)​
Children	2
Education	Bradley University (BA, MA) Northern Illinois University (PhD)
Website	House website

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. 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 and education[]

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]

She earned her Ph.D. in political science from Northern Illinois University in 2004.^[4]

Early career[]

From 1992 through 2006 she served as a director of community affairs in Matteson.^[4]

Illinois House of Representatives[]

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]

State and county government[]

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.^{[citation needed]} Robin was appointed to become chief administrative officer for Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle in 2011.

2010 Illinois treasurer election[]

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.^[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[]

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

• Committee on Energy and Commerce (vice chair)
  • Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Health
• Committee on Oversight and Reform
  • Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Caucus memberships[]

• Congressional Black Caucus^[18]
• Medicare for All Caucus^[19]

Personal life[]

Kelly lives in Matteson with her husband, Nathaniel Horn.^[3]

Electoral history[]

See also[]

• List of African-American United States representatives
• Women in the United States House of Representatives

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robin Kelly.

• 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
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• Appearances on C-SPAN