Robert Peters

Robert Peters was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned his undergraduate degree from Kansas State University. Peters has worked for ICIRR, Chicago Votes, and Reclaim Chicago. He also worked on Daniel K. Biss' Democratic campaign for governor of Illinois. Peters is a dues-paying member of The People's Lobby and United Working Families.[1]

Robert Peters did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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Campaign websitePeters' campaign website stated the following:Quality Healthcare for AllRobert isn't afraid to stand up to the health insurance industry. In Springfield, he took on predatory health insurers and expanded mental health coverage, providing people some relief from crushing health care costs. In Congress, he’ll push us further, fighting to roll back Trump’s cuts to Medicaid and Obamacare while passing laws like Medicare for All that make quality health care a universal guarantee. He’ll also work to bring a Level 1 or Level 2 trauma center to the South Suburbs to save lives in our communities.Housing We Can All AffordRent and home prices are out of control in America, driven by greedy landlords and Wall Street banks buying up our communities to profit from them. In Springfield, Robert worked to expand the senior property tax freeze so seniors and working class people can stay in their homes. In Congress, he’ll ban out-of-state corporations from jacking up rent and work to create more affordable units.The Right to Retire with DignityRobert will not only fight Trump’s attacks on Social Security and Medicare, but he’ll work to expand Social Security benefits and force Medicare to negotiate down drug costs. That way, seniors can retire with dignity, not struggle to pay their bills.An Economy that Works for EveryoneRobert has passed laws to help working families earn better pay and keep more of what they earned. He voted to raise the minimum wage, end the state sales tax on groceries, and ensure women and Black and Brown workers are paid what they deserve. He will continue that fight in Congress by working to lower the cost of living and bringing good-paying jobs here that people can afford to raise a family on. Robert will always stand with the labor movement, and in Congress, he’ll fight to pass the PRO Act to make sure everyone can organize their workplaces.Protecting Our Immigrant NeighborsICE's invasion of our communities and tearing families apart is un-American, and we need to check Trump’s power. Robert will vote to ban Trump’s racist, illegal mass deportation raids, ban ICE from arresting people without warrants, and keep Trump’s masked men off our streets.The Fight for Reproductive RightsRobert helped lead the charge on the law that protected abortion rights and access in Illinois, and kept women in control of their own bodies. He’ll take on the anti-abortion activists who cut Planned Parenthood funding to get those critical health care services back, and he’ll work to restore abortion rights across America. Robert used IVF to start his own family, and he’ll fight to make sure everyone has the same ability to do so.Public Safety for AllAs the chair of the State Senate’s Black Caucus, Peters ended the broken bail system that kept low-income Illinoisans in jail just for being poor, while letting rich criminals off the hook, and he successfully strengthened community violence prevention programs. Robert knows that if we want to cut crime, we need a fairer criminal justice system and real investment in our neighborhoods.— Robert Peters' campaign website (December 1, 2025)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Robert Peters did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Robert Peters did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in Hyde Park. A huge part of my organizing has been about sharing my story openly, which grounds me in my work and our movement. I was born deaf to a mother who was addicted to drugs and was adopted by my mom who was a social worker and my dad who was a civil rights attorney.

I struggled deeply in the early years of my life because I was unable to speak or hear. I struggled with my identity, my mother's mental illness, and alcoholism and experienced a great loss with the early deaths of my father and mother who passed away with $300,000 of housing debt. All of these experiences have moved me to want to build a world that takes care of me like my community did when things got tough. I am a fighter, not just for myself, but for all of the people out there who have and will experience the type of oppression and pain that capitalism and racism creates. That is why I am dedicated to the work that we do. This is why I want to continue to represent the 13th District.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The last 40 years of crackdowns and cutbacks haven't served our communities or made us any safer. We need to reimagine our approach to public safety and violence prevention, through reinvesting in our neighborhoods, caring our communities and ending the system of mass incarceration of people of color.During my first term in office, I was the chief co-sponsor of 13 bills. All 13 bills passed in both chambers and were signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker.Building a 21st century Illinois .

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1. Ending Mass Incarceration and reimagining safety and justice

2. DCFS and foster care system

3. Building a fair state budget

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my dad, Thomas Peters. He was a Civil Rights and Criminal Defense attorney. He often fought for the most vulnerable people. He argued in front of the Supreme Court and passed away in 2011. I was born deaf and developed a speech impediment and it was my father who helped me get through it. He never put life in success and failure but in simply trying and growing.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I will recommend the documentary called the "Edge of Democracy." There is an amazingly moving speech by former Brazil President Lula.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

We need elected officials who have the courage to stand up for working people. The courage to risk it all. We need elected officials who look at power not as an individual responsibility but a community responsibility. We need to turn our offices in tools for community organizing and to make our decision making more democratic. We need to be held accountable to the community and be open and accepting of that. We need to be driven by a long term vision that goes beyond us in positions of power and impacts the wider communities around us.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I think the best quality I have is that I am an organizer and relationship builder. That has served me in my first session, as I was able to carry and pass 13 bills.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities is to serve the people of their districts and to make sure to meet people who otherwise don't have the time or access to meet with their elected officials. We need to know that our job isn't to make everyone happy but to live out our values and to organize around those values. We also have to organize in a strategic way that allows us to win the bigger strategic fights in this world. We shouldn't be martyrs or lone wolfs but also shouldn't be extremely pandering to entrenched power.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Winning real safety and justice in the State of Illinois through abolishing cash bail and reinvesting in our communities.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first big thing I can remember was the 1994 baseball strike. The White Sox (my team) were having an amazing season and looking back on it it is amazing how strong the MLB players union is both inside of sports and within the larger labor union movement.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was serving in the cafeteria at Kansas State University. I quit after my boss used the term "slave runner."

What is your favorite book? Why?

We Got People - Ryan Grim

We Got People is about the history of the people led movements from Jesse Jackson's "Rainbow Coalition" Presidential Campaigns to AOCs Congressional Campaign.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Spiderman because I resonate with the character's story of his loss of family and story of adoption.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)-Michael Marshall

Soundtrack: The Last Black Man in San Francisco

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have had so many struggles in my life. Being born deaf to a mother who was addicted to drugs and forced to give me up for adoption was the earliest struggle I faced.

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

The Senate is a bit of a calmer chamber compared to the House. It is one thing that has stood out to me in my first term and even though we have our fair share of drama, it is still calmer than the House.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I do but in a unique manner, I don't think we simply have to have people who went the traditional route to office. I think we need organizers who have held regular jobs and lived regular lives who see government working for regular, working people. We have too many people that are professionalized in government and it means government doesn't communicate to the most vulnerable amongst us.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

We have long term budget challenges combined with a decade plus of austerity that has led to families on the South Side and Central/Southern Illinois moving away from the state. We need to end austerity, fix our budget challenges not on the backs of working people but those who have seen income growth over the last decade, and create an efficient government not just for a few but the many.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

The ideal relationship between the Executive and Legislative branches is one with a healthy tension driven by the needs of the people of the state. For example, when we see issues in departments and agencies we should use our powers to check on them and put pressure on the executive to deal with them. The Governor somewhat free from the whims of election cycles can focus on instituting a broader vision that improves the lives of people in the state.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes. I am an organizer and will always believe in building relationships, negotiating within those relationships, and being honest and candid with colleagues. I might disagree with a colleague on one issue but I might agree on another. This isn't about building friendships, this is about policy. If you become friends, then thats just an added benefit.

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

I will speak of two that I am most drawn to, Criminal Law and Human Services. Criminal Law is often a place for lawyers, especially prosecutors. Human Services has a profound impact on DCFS. I want to redefine safety and justice in this world and actually win safety for people after decades of failure. I believe Criminal Law and DCFS are spaces to get this done. My life is tied to these issues from the causes of my birth and adoption to my parents life. I am passionate to win an equitable 21st century Illinois.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I really respect former Senator Daniel Biss. I learned a lot from him working as his Political Director for his run for Governor. We sometimes disagree but there are few people as smart as he is.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I am most interested to continue being an effective state senator. I was appointed to this seat and have to earn it both as a legislator and in an election. I passed 13 bills and yet I feel there is more work to be done. I am interested in taking on more and more systemic legislation that impacts peoples lives. If the people decide they want someone else in this seat, I will go back to being an organizer and fighting for the change we deserve in the world.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I had a constituent come to my office and lobby me about housing. She drove from Florida after years of domestic violence with her kids. She didn't have a place to go but knew she wanted to get as far away from the pain in her life. She drove to Chicago, she slept in shelters where she was assaulted, she slept in Lower Wacker where she was assaulted, and she found Maggie Daley Park to be the safest place to sleep. She now lives in affordable housing in South Shore and I made a promise to her to fight for housing and fight for people who are often ignored and don't have hope in our political system.