Robin Kelly (Democratic Party-D) is a member of the U.S. House. She assumed office on April 11, 2013. Kelly is currently running for re-election to represent Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District. The Incumbent advanced from the Democratic primary on March 17, 2020, defeating Marcus Lewis. Since being elected to serve the 2nd Congressional District in 2013,
Congresswoman Robin Kelly-D (incumbent) continues to advocate for Illinois families. Kelly has worked to expand economic opportunity, community wellness, and public safety across the state. She has also championed numerous initiatives to generate job growth, reduce health disparities, and end gun violence.
On her vision for the office, “My priorities are expanding access to healthcare, addressing gun safety, consumer protection and economic development.” Kelly said. Additionally, my district offices focus on constituent services and are responsive to the people of the 2nd District’s needs. Since 2013 I have had the privilege of representing the 2nd Congressional District on Capitol Hill as an advocate for Illinois families, and I hope to continue my service to them.”
Congresswoman Kelly is a Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee (the House’s main policy-writing body). She also serves on the Health, Energy, and Consumer Protection and Commerce subcommittees. Additionally, she is a Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and serves on the national security and civil rights and civil liberties subcommittees. Her Energy and Commerce work focuses on expanding access to healthcare, consumer protection for American families, and economic development.
Congresswoman Kelly is a champion of common-sense gun reforms and responsible community policing. She is a Co-Chair of the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce and author of The 2014 Kelly Report on Gun Violence in America. The Kelly report is the first-ever Congressional analysis of the nation’s gun violence epidemic that offers a blueprint for ending the crisis.
Incumbent Kelly is running against Theresa Raborn (Republican). In an interview with the another local media site, Raborn says that she already has bills drafted and ready to be introduced into Congress on day one.
“I will focus primarily on the four issues in the previous question (education, healthcare, jobs, and criminal justice reform) and the bills to support those plans. Although I will be fighting for all the bills I introduce, those four issues are my top priority. These four are critically vital to the survival of the great people of the second District.”
Both candidates are on the ballot in the upcoming general election on November 3, 2020.
Kelly Washington is a freelance writer living on the Southside of Chicago. You can follow her on social media @Sunrise and Sugar (Facebook) and @BlackBFly7 (Twitter).