Robin Kelly

Robin Kelly
Official portrait, 2021
Robin Kelly
Born	Robin Lynne Kelly 30 4, 1956
Birthplace	New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	U.S. Representative from Illinois's 2nd congressional district
Children	2
Website	[[robinkelly.house.gov robinkelly.house.gov] Official site]

Robin Lynne Kelly (born April 30, 1956) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative from Illinois's 2nd congressional district since April 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Kelly has built a political career spanning more than two decades in Illinois public service, including a term in the Illinois House of Representatives, a role as chief of staff for Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, service as the Cook County chief administrative officer, and a tenure as chair of the Illinois Democratic Party. She won a special election in 2013 to succeed Jesse Jackson Jr., who had resigned from Congress, and has been re-elected to the seat in every subsequent general election. Born in New York City, Kelly relocated to Illinois and became a fixture in the state's south suburban and south side Chicago political landscape. In May 2025, Kelly announced that she would not seek re-election to her congressional seat and would instead run for the United States Senate in 2026, seeking to succeed the retiring incumbent Dick Durbin.

Early Life

Robin Lynne Kelly was born on April 30, 1956, in New York City, New York. She grew up in New York before eventually relocating to Illinois, where she would establish her political career. Kelly settled in the south suburbs of Chicago, an area that would become the foundation of her political base within Illinois's 2nd congressional district. The district encompasses portions of Chicago's South Side and extends into the southern suburbs of Cook County, including communities such as Matteson, Chicago Heights, and Harvey.

Details of Kelly's early family life and upbringing in New York City remain limited in publicly available records. What is documented is that Kelly's trajectory took her from the East Coast to the Midwest, where she pursued higher education and eventually entered public service. She has two children.

Career

Illinois House of Representatives

Kelly began her career in elected office when she was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 38th district. She took office on January 8, 2003, succeeding Harold Murphy in the seat. Kelly served in the state legislature until January 12, 2007, when she was succeeded by Al Riley. During her time in the Illinois House, Kelly worked on legislation affecting her south suburban constituents and established herself within the Illinois Democratic Party's political infrastructure.

Chief of Staff to the State Treasurer

After leaving the Illinois House of Representatives, Kelly took on a role in state government, serving as chief of staff for Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. In this capacity, Kelly worked on the administrative and policy operations of the Treasurer's office until 2010. The position gave Kelly experience in statewide financial administration and executive-level government operations.

2010 Campaign for State Treasurer

In 2010, Kelly secured the Democratic Party's nomination for Illinois State Treasurer. She ran in the general election but was defeated, failing to hold the seat for the Democratic Party. The loss was part of a broader national political wave that saw Democratic candidates struggle in many races across the country during the 2010 midterm elections.

Cook County Chief Administrative Officer

Following her unsuccessful bid for state treasurer, Kelly was appointed as the chief administrative officer of Cook County. In this role, she oversaw the administrative functions of one of the largest counties in the United States, with a population of over five million residents. The position placed Kelly at the center of Cook County's government operations and provided her with executive management experience at a significant scale.

2013 Special Election to Congress

Kelly's path to Congress began in late 2012, when Jesse Jackson Jr., who had represented Illinois's 2nd congressional district since 1995, resigned from the House of Representatives on November 21, 2012, amid federal investigations into the misuse of campaign funds. Jackson's resignation triggered a special election to fill the vacant seat.

Kelly entered the crowded Democratic primary field for the special election. The race drew national attention due to both the high-profile nature of Jackson's departure and the policy issues at stake, particularly gun control, which had become a heightened national concern following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012. During the primary campaign, Kelly received a significant boost when Independence USA PAC, a super PAC funded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, endorsed her candidacy and spent heavily on advertising in the district on her behalf. The PAC's involvement in the race was widely covered in national media.

Kelly also secured endorsements from prominent Illinois members of Congress, including Representatives Danny K. Davis and Bobby Rush, which helped consolidate support among key constituencies in the district. Additionally, Representative Jan Schakowsky endorsed Kelly in the race.

The Democratic primary, held on February 26, 2013, was effectively the decisive contest in the heavily Democratic district. Kelly won the primary by a commanding margin, defeating former Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson and a field of other candidates. Gun control was a central issue in the primary, with Kelly positioning herself as a strong advocate for stricter gun regulations, in contrast to Halvorson, who had received endorsements from the National Rifle Association during her previous campaigns.

Kelly went on to win the special general election on April 9, 2013, and was sworn in as a member of the 113th United States Congress on April 11, 2013.

U.S. House of Representatives

Since taking office in April 2013, Kelly has represented Illinois's 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. She has been a member of the Congressional Black Caucus throughout her tenure.

During her time in Congress, Kelly has focused on a range of policy issues. Gun violence prevention has been a consistent priority, reflecting the issue that helped propel her to office in the 2013 special election. Her district, which includes areas of Chicago's South Side that have been disproportionately affected by gun violence, has made the issue a persistent concern for her constituents.

Kelly has also worked on legislation related to consumer safety and technology. In January 2026, Kelly introduced a bill addressing safety concerns with electric vehicle door releases, specifically targeting issues with Tesla vehicles. The legislation aimed to address concerns about door release mechanisms in electric vehicles that could pose safety hazards in emergency situations.

Kelly has been re-elected to her seat multiple times since the 2013 special election, running in both the regular primary and general elections for the district. Her electoral margins in the heavily Democratic district have been consistently strong.

Chair of the Illinois Democratic Party

On March 3, 2021, Kelly became chair of the Illinois Democratic Party, succeeding Karen Yarbrough, who had served in an acting capacity. Kelly held the position until July 30, 2022, when she was succeeded by Elizabeth Hernandez. As party chair, Kelly was responsible for the organizational, fundraising, and strategic operations of the state party apparatus during a period that included the lead-up to the 2022 midterm elections.

2026 U.S. Senate Campaign

On May 6, 2025, Kelly announced that she would retire from the U.S. House of Representatives and run for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Dick Durbin, who announced he would not seek re-election in 2026. Kelly entered the Democratic primary alongside other Illinois House Democrats, creating a competitive intraparty contest for the nomination.

During the campaign, Kelly sought to distinguish herself from her Democratic rivals on a number of policy fronts. In a February 2026 debate, Kelly made headlines when she stated her belief that Israel had committed "genocide" in the context of the ongoing conflict, a position that generated significant media coverage and discussion among Illinois voters and national political observers.

The debate among the leading Democratic candidates also addressed topics including PAC funding and ICE enforcement policies, with Kelly drawing contrasts with her fellow candidates on multiple issues.

Kelly's Senate campaign received endorsements from national figures, including U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, who endorsed her candidacy in February 2026.

Kelly's departure from the 2nd congressional district seat prompted a competitive primary race to succeed her, with ten candidates vying for the Democratic nomination ahead of the March 2026 primary. Among the candidates seeking to replace Kelly was Jesse Jackson Jr., her predecessor in the seat, who launched a political comeback bid.

Personal Life

Robin Kelly has two children. She resides in the south suburban Chicago area within the boundaries of Illinois's 2nd congressional district. Kelly has been based in the district for much of her adult life, having moved to Illinois from her birthplace of New York City. Details about her private life beyond these publicly documented facts are limited in available records.

Kelly submitted a candidate questionnaire to the Chicago Sun-Times as part of her 2026 Senate campaign, outlining her policy positions and personal background for voters ahead of the March 17, 2026, Democratic primary election.

Legacy

Kelly's political career has been defined by her sustained presence in Illinois Democratic politics across multiple levels of government — from the state legislature, to county government, to Congress, and ultimately as a candidate for the U.S. Senate. Her 2013 special election victory was notable in part because of the role that gun control played as a decisive issue in the race, with the significant financial support from Michael Bloomberg's Independence USA PAC helping to elevate her candidacy at a time when the national debate over gun violence was at a peak following the Sandy Hook shooting.

As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Kelly has been part of a cohort of African American legislators representing districts in the Chicago metropolitan area and its suburbs. Her tenure as chair of the Illinois Democratic Party from 2021 to 2022 made her a central figure in the state party's operations during a period of significant national political activity.

The race to succeed Kelly in the 2nd congressional district, with its field of ten candidates including the returning Jesse Jackson Jr., underscored the significance of the seat and the political dynamics Kelly navigated during her more than a decade of representation.