Jan Schakowsky

Jan Schakowsky
Born	Janice Danoff 26 5, 1944
Birthplace	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	U.S. Representative from Illinois's 9th congressional district (1999–present)
Education	University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (BS)
Children	2
Website	[schakowsky.house.gov Official site]

Janice "Jan" Schakowsky (Template:IPAc-en; née Danoff; born May 26, 1944) is an American politician who has represented Illinois's 9th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 1999. A member of the Democratic Party, Schakowsky has built a lengthy career in progressive politics spanning more than three decades, beginning with consumer advocacy work in the 1960s and 1970s, continuing through service in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1991 to 1998, and culminating in her long tenure in Congress. Her district is anchored in Chicago's North Side and includes many of the city's northern suburbs, such as Evanston, Skokie, Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Wilmette, and Winnetka. In Congress, Schakowsky has served in Democratic leadership as Senior Chief Deputy Whip and has been a prominent voice on issues including consumer protection, health care, and social justice. On May 5, 2025, she announced that she would not seek reelection in 2026.

Early Life

Janice Danoff was born on May 26, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois. She grew up in the Chicago area and became involved in consumer advocacy at a relatively young age. One of her earliest and most notable activities in public life came in the 1960s and 1970s, when she became involved in grassroots consumer organizing. Schakowsky is credited with participating in campaigns that led to the requirement of freshness date labels on food products sold in grocery stores, an effort that brought her early recognition as a consumer advocate.

This early activism helped shape Schakowsky's approach to public policy, emphasizing consumer rights and the interests of working families. Her background in community organizing in Chicago placed her within a broader tradition of progressive political engagement on the city's North Side, a tradition that would later inform her legislative career at both the state and federal levels.

Education

Schakowsky attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Her education at the university preceded her career in consumer advocacy and public service.

Career

Consumer Advocacy

Before entering elected politics, Schakowsky spent years working in consumer advocacy and community organizing in the Chicago area. Her work on issues such as food product labeling and consumer protection established her reputation as an advocate for ordinary citizens and laid the foundation for her subsequent political career. This period of activism was instrumental in connecting her with networks of progressive organizations and voters in Chicago and its suburbs.

Illinois House of Representatives (1991–1998)

Schakowsky was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1990, succeeding Woody Bowman. She initially represented the 4th district from 1991 to 1993 and, following redistricting, represented the 18th district from 1993 until 1998. During her eight years in the state legislature, Schakowsky focused on issues related to health care, consumer protection, and the needs of senior citizens. Her successor in the Illinois House was Julie Hamos.

Her service in the Illinois General Assembly provided her with legislative experience and a political base from which to launch a campaign for Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives (1999–present)

Election to Congress

In 1998, Schakowsky ran to succeed the retiring Sidney R. Yates, who had represented Illinois's 9th congressional district for most of the previous five decades. Schakowsky won the Democratic primary and the general election, taking office on January 3, 1999. The 9th district, long considered a safe Democratic seat, encompassed a diverse mix of urban neighborhoods on Chicago's North Side and affluent northern suburban communities along Lake Michigan.

Legislative Focus and Committee Work

In the House, Schakowsky has served on several committees over the course of her tenure. She has been a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, one of the most influential committees in the House, which has jurisdiction over a wide range of issues including health care, telecommunications, energy policy, and consumer protection.

Schakowsky has been a consistent advocate for progressive causes in Congress. She has supported expanded access to health care, including advocacy for a public option and, at times, single-payer health care proposals. She has also been active on issues related to Social Security and Medicare, opposing proposals to privatize or reduce benefits for these programs. Her legislative work has frequently focused on the needs of senior citizens, women, and low-income families.

On foreign policy, Schakowsky has taken positions that have at times placed her at odds with elements of both parties. She was among the members of Congress who opposed the Iraq War and has been vocal on issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, human rights, and international humanitarian concerns.

Democratic Leadership Role

Schakowsky has held a position within the Democratic leadership in the House as Senior Chief Deputy Whip, a role she has held since January 3, 2019. In this capacity, she has worked under House Democratic leaders including Nancy Pelosi and Hakeem Jeffries to coordinate party strategy and secure votes on key legislative priorities. The position of Chief Deputy Whip is a significant role within the party's leadership structure, and Schakowsky's elevation to it reflected her long tenure and standing within the Democratic caucus. She succeeded G. K. Butterfield in this role.

Consideration for U.S. Senate Appointment (2008)

Following the election of Barack Obama to the presidency in November 2008, Schakowsky was among the Illinois political figures mentioned as a potential appointee to fill Obama's vacated United States Senate seat. The appointment was to be made by then-Governor Rod Blagojevich. Schakowsky publicly expressed interest in the appointment. Ultimately, Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris to the seat amid a corruption scandal that led to the governor's impeachment and removal from office.

Political Positioning

Throughout her congressional career, Schakowsky has been identified as one of the more progressive members of the House. She has been associated with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and has aligned with caucuses and organizations on the political left. She has been a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and has co-sponsored legislation on a range of progressive priorities, including raising the minimum wage, expanding workers' rights, and strengthening environmental regulations.

Retirement Announcement (2025)

On May 5, 2025, Schakowsky announced that she would not seek reelection in 2026, bringing to a close a congressional career that will have spanned more than a quarter-century by the end of her current term.

Recent Political Activity (2026)

Boycott of the State of the Union Address

In February 2026, Schakowsky announced her decision to boycott President Donald Trump's State of the Union address. In a statement released by her office, she cited concerns she had with the administration's policies. Schakowsky noted that her office had been "flooded with calls asking me to skip this speech and take a stand." She was joined by at least two other Illinois Democratic members of Congress, Representatives Sean Casten and Delia Ramirez, in the boycott.

Withdrawal of Endorsement in 2nd Congressional District Race

In February 2026, Schakowsky withdrew her endorsement of Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, a candidate in the Democratic primary for Illinois's 2nd congressional district. Schakowsky stated that she "cannot support any candidate running for Congress who is funded by these outside" groups, referring to the political action committee affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The withdrawal of the endorsement drew attention from national political media outlets.

Personal Life

Schakowsky was born Janice Danoff in Chicago, Illinois. She later married and took the surname Schakowsky. She has two children.

Schakowsky's husband, Robert Creamer, is a political consultant and community organizer. Creamer pleaded guilty to federal charges of bank fraud and tax evasion in 2005 and served a prison sentence. The case attracted media attention given Schakowsky's position in Congress.

Schakowsky is Jewish and has been a prominent Jewish member of Congress. Her identity has informed some of her positions on issues related to Israel and the Middle East, though she has at times taken positions that have diverged from those of some mainstream Jewish political organizations, as illustrated by her 2026 withdrawal of an endorsement over AIPAC funding.

Recognition

Schakowsky has received recognition from various organizations over the course of her career. She was recognized by U.S. News & World Report for her work on behalf of women in Congress.

She has also been recognized by Delta Phi Epsilon sorority as a distinguished alumna.

Schakowsky has been featured and profiled by The Progressive magazine and The Nation, publications aligned with progressive politics, reflecting her standing within the American progressive movement.

Legacy

Jan Schakowsky's career in public service has spanned more than three decades of elected office, encompassing eight years in the Illinois House of Representatives and more than a quarter-century in the United States Congress. She succeeded Sidney R. Yates, who had himself served the 9th district for decades, and Schakowsky continued the district's tradition of long-tenured, progressive Democratic representation.

Her early work in consumer advocacy, particularly her involvement in campaigns for food freshness date labeling, contributed to consumer protection standards that became widespread across the United States. In Congress, she has been a consistent voice within the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, advocating for expanded health care access, Social Security protections, and the rights of workers and seniors.

As one of the more senior Jewish members of Congress, Schakowsky has navigated complex political terrain on issues related to Israel and the Middle East, at times taking positions that distinguished her from some within the pro-Israel advocacy community. Her 2026 decision to withdraw an endorsement over AIPAC funding illustrated her willingness to take positions on these issues late in her career.

Her elevation to the role of Senior Chief Deputy Whip reflected her influence within the Democratic caucus and her ability to work within the party's institutional structures while maintaining a progressive identity. With her announced retirement effective at the end of her current term, the 9th district will see its first open-seat election in more than a quarter-century.