Robin Kelly

Robin Kelly
Robin Kelly
	Official portrait, 2021
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
	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 (age 68); 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

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]

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]

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

Early career

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

Illinois House of Representatives

Elections

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

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

State and county government

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

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

2013 congressional election

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 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

Kelly took office on April 9, 2013,^[4] and was sworn in on April 11.^[18]

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:^[19]

Committee on Energy and Commerce

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Kelly voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.^[22]

Syria

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

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

Democratic primary for the 2002 Illinois 38th House district election^[26]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robin Kelly	10,870	56.04
	Democratic	Harold Murphy (incumbent)	8,526	43.96
Total votes			19,396	100.0

2002 Illinois 38th House district election^[27]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robin Kelly	26,739	80.95
	Republican	Catherine (Kitty) Watson	6,292	19.05
Total votes			33,031	100.0

Democratic primary for the 2004 Illinois 38th House district election^[28]
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

2004 Illinois 38th House district election^[29]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robin Kelly (incumbent)	41,837	86.15
	Republican	Jack McInerney	6,727	13.85
Total votes			48,564	100.0

2006 Illinois 38th House district election^[30]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robin Kelly (incumbent)	30,862	100.0
Total votes			30,862	100.0

Democratic primary for the 2010 Illinois State Treasurer election^[31]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robin Kelly	472,494	57.92
	Democratic	Justin P. Oberman	343,307	42.08
Total votes			815,801	100.0

2010 Illinois State Treasurer election^[32]
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

Democratic primary for the 2013 Illinois 2nd congressional district special election^[33]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robin Kelly	31,079	53.27
	Democratic	Debbie Halvorson	14,650	25.11
	Democratic	Anthony 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

2013 Illinois 2nd congressional district special election^[34]
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

2014 Illinois 2nd congressional district election^[35]
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

Democratic primary for the 2016 Illinois 2nd congressional district election^[36]
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

2016 Illinois 2nd congressional district election^[37]
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

Democratic primary for the 2018 Illinois 2nd congressional district election^[38]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robin Kelly (incumbent)	80,659	82.05
	Democratic	Marcus Lewis	17,640	17.95
Total votes			98,299	100.0

2018 Illinois 2nd congressional district election^[39]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robin Kelly (incumbent)	190,684	81.06
	Republican	David Merkle	44,567	18.94
Total votes			235,251	100.0

2020 Illinois 2nd congressional district election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robin Kelly (incumbent)	234,896	78.81
	Republican	Theresa Raborn	63,142	21.19
Total votes			298,038	100.0

2022 Illinois 2nd congressional district election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robin Kelly (incumbent)	140,414	67.13
	Republican	Thomas Lynch	68,761	32.87
Total votes			209,175	100.0

2024 Illinois 2nd congressional district election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robin Kelly (incumbent)	195,777	67.55
	Republican	Ashley Ramos	94,004	32.43
	Write-in		62	0.02
Total votes			289,843	100.0

References

^ 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. Archived 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.
^ "2012 General Election Results: U.S. President". Elections.chicagotribune.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
^ "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. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
^ "Bloomberg PAC endorses Robin Kelly in new Illinois special election ad". Washingtonpost.com. Archived 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] Archived 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]}
^ "Election Results 2010 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
^ "Election Results 2010 GENERAL ELECTION". 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.
^ "Election Results 2016 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
^ "Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
^ "Election Results 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
^ "Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.

External links

Congresswoman Robin Kelly official U.S. House website
Robin Kelly for Congress

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

Party political offices
Preceded by Alexi Giannoulias	Democratic nominee for Treasurer of Illinois 2010	Succeeded by Mike Frerichs
Preceded by Karen Yarbrough Acting	Chair of the Illinois Democratic Party 2021–2022	Succeeded by Elizabeth Hernandez
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 124th	Succeeded by Jason Smith

[1] Isenstadt, Alex (February 26, 2013). "Kelly wins amid Bloomberg ad blitz". Politico. Retrieved December 4, 2018.

[2013-gen-results-2] "Illinois Special Election Results". Politico.

[tribune-legacy-3] Skiba, Katherine (April 14, 2013). "Robin Kelly hopes to change legacy of 2nd District seat". Chicago Tribune.

[bioguide-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] "Illinois Races: Robin Kelly Running for State Treasurer". nbcchicago.com. November 2, 2009. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2022.

[10] "IL Treasurer – D Primary Race". Our Campaigns. February 2, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2013.

[11] "2012 General Election Results: U.S. President". Elections.chicagotribune.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2013.

[12] "IL Treasurer Race". Our Campaigns. November 2, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2013.

[13] 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.

[14] McClelland, Edward (February 13, 2013). "Jan Schakowsky Endorses Robin Kelly". NBC Chicago. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.

[15] "Bloomberg PAC endorses Robin Kelly in new Illinois special election ad". Washingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.

[16] "Robin Kelly wins rival Toi Hutchinson's support in Illinois race". Politico.com. February 19, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.

[17] "Illinois Special Election Results 2013 – District Results, Live Updates". Politico.com. April 11, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.

[18] [1] Archived April 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine

[19] "Robin L. Kelly". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 25, 2023.

[20] "Membership". Congressional Black Caucus. Retrieved March 7, 2018.

[21] @GideonResnick (July 19, 2018). "Up to 70 members now" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[22] Bycoffe, Aaron; Wiederkehr, Anna (April 22, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 15, 2023.

[23] "H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023".

[24] "House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria". Associated Press. March 8, 2023.

[pewforum-25] "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center. January 3, 2023.

[26] "Election Results 2002 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[27] "Election Results 2002 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[28] "Election Results 2004 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.

[29] "Election Results 2004 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[30] "Election Results 2006 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[31] "Election Results 2010 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.

[32] "Election Results 2010 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.

[33] "Election Results 2013 SPECIAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.

[34] "Election Results 2013 SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.

[35] "Election Results 2014 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 21, 2019.

[36] "Election Results 2016 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.

[37] "Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.

[38] "Election Results 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.

[39] "Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.

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Robin Kelly

Early life and education

Early career

Illinois House of Representatives

Elections

Committee assignments

State and county government

2010 Illinois treasurer election

U.S. House of Representatives

2013 congressional election

Tenure

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Syria

Personal life

Electoral history

See also

References

External links

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