Robin Kelly


Robin Lynne Kelly is an American politician from Illinois who has served as the U.S. Representative from 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, Kelly won the 2013 special election to succeed Jesse Jackson Jr. in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Early life, education, and early political career

The daughter of a grocer, Robin Lynne Kelly was born in Harlem on April 30, 1956. Hoping to become a child psychologist, she attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority through the Zeta Phi Chapter. At Bradley, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and her Master of Arts in counseling. While in Peoria she directed a "crisis nursery" and worked in a hospital.
From 1992 through 2006 she served as a Director of Community Affairs in Matteson. She earned her Ph.D. in political science from Northern Illinois University.

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

Committee assignments

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 Justin Oberman, 58%–42%. She won most of the counties in the state, including Cook County with 59% of the vote.
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, Alexander, Gallatin, St. Clair, Calhoun, and Rock Island counties.

U.S. House of Representatives

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, two Chicago-based Democratic congressmen, Bobby Rush and Danny K. Davis, endorsed her.
On February 13, U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky endorsed Kelly. 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. On February 17, State Senator Toi Hutchinson decided to drop out to endorse Kelly.
On February 26, 2013, she won the Democratic primary in the heavily Democratic, black-majority district with 52% of the vote. 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.

Tenure

Kelly took office on April 9, 2013, and was sworn in on April 11, 2013.

Committee assignments

Kelly lives in Matteson with her husband, Nathaniel Horn.

Electoral history