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]
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 TreasurerAlexi 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]
On February 13, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky endorsed Kelly.[14] A few days later, New York City MayorMichael 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]
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]
^"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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"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.
^"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 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
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robin Kelly.
Congresswoman Robin Kelly official U.S. House website