Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) (Public Domain Photo).
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly announced on Tuesday that she will run to succeed Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who announced two weeks ago that he won’t seek reelection. Rep. Kelly is the second candidate to officially declare her campaign for the retiring senator’s seat, joining Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton who declared last week. .
In a statement, Kelly said it’s a challenge she is undertaking on behalf of Illinoisans, one she is more than ready for.
“Every day, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Congressional Republicans are targeting Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and passing policies that raise costs for Illinois families, small businesses, and farmers,” Kelly said. “This moment requires proven leaders who have the experience to take on the toughest battles. I’ve never backed down – not from gun lobbyists, not from MAGA extremists, and certainly not from a fight for what’s right.”
Kelly, who represents Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District, has served the state’s urban, suburban and rural communities in Congress since April 2013. She says now that she’s ready to expand her fight to the entire state—addressing gun violence reduction, reducing the cost for families, and eliminating health disparities.
A former legislator and mental health counselor, Kelly established a reputation for advocating for changes that operated in the shadows but proved enduring. As a State Representative, she collaborated with then-State Sen. Barack Obama and Illinois Sen. President Don Harmon to pass legislation that held gun dealers accountable for selling illegally.
Kelly participated in a House sit-in for gun violence and co-sponsored legislation to help survivors of domestic violence. She endorsed a gun violence prevention bill called the most comprehensive in decades and supported a bill to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage to a year instead of six weeks.
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