Robin Kelly

Robin Kelly was born in New York, New York, in 1956. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology and her master's in counseling from Bradley University in 1977 and 1982, respectively.[1][2] She received a doctorate in political science from Northern Illinois University in 2004.[3] Kelly's previous work experience includes being a counselor, as a community affairs director for Matteson, Illinois, as the chief of staff for Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D), and as Cook County's chief administrative officer. She served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007.[1]

Robin Kelly did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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Campaign websiteKelly's campaign website stated the following:The ‘People Over Profits’ plan is the most comprehensive and progressive economic policy platform introduced to date in the race for the United States Senate, and it builds on the decades of work Robin Kelly has dedicated her time in standing up to corporate interests and political machines to deliver meaningful change.

Tax the Billionaires

Robin Kelly will be a leading voice on equitable tax policy in the U.S. Senate by imposing a minimum tax on individual taxpayers whose net worth for the taxable year exceeds $100 million.

Raise Wages for Workers

Robin Kelly supports raising the minimum wage to at least $17 per hour by 2030, which will give roughly 22 million Americans a long-overdue raise.

Cap Child Care Costs

Child care costs are way too high, and that limits what most families can reasonably provide for their children. In Illinois, infant care costs more each year than in-state tuition for a four-year public college.

As your next U.S. Senator, Robin Kelly will lead the fight to pass the Child Care for Working Families Act so the average family will pay less than $15 a day for child care.

Provide Medicare for All

Robin Kelly has been a leading voice on expanding healthcare access as a member of the House of Representatives.

As a member of the Medicare for All Caucus in the House of Representatives, Robin supports the Medicare for All Act, which would expand Medicare dental and vision benefits to every senior in the United States.

She also proposes to expand the Affordable Care Act to include middle-class families currently not eligible for it and increase subsidies and tax credits to lower healthcare costs.

Strengthen Social Security

Social Security is a vital lifeline for so many, especially Illinois' senior citizens. Robin Kelly is committed to preserving and strengthening Social Security benefits not just for current retirees, but for future generations.

Robin understands that we can do that by asking the wealthy to pay their fair share. Robin will fight for the Social Security 2100 Act, which would lift the cap on Social Security taxes and make the fund solvent until 2100.

Providing Housing People Can Afford

There is a cost-of-housing crisis impacting communities across America, from our biggest cities to the small towns at the core of rural life.

Robin Kelly supports a ban on rent gouging, capping annual rent hikes, and implementing a major federal investment in affordable housing.

She opposes large corporate landlords buying up affordable housing units that price out families from being able to buy single-family residential homes.

Lower Energy Costs

As a Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Robin Kelly shaped legislation affecting clean air, climate change, safe drinking water, renewable energy, and hazardous waste.

She supported the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provided $1.7 billion over five years to improve water infrastructure across Illinois, $4 billion to improve access to public transportation, $27 million to prepare our infrastructure against natural disasters, and $149 million to expand electric vehicle charging networks.

As your next U.S. Senator, Robin will make large investments into improving infrastructure and expanding renewable energy sources across the state of Illinois that will decrease families' energy costs.— Robin Kelly's campaign website (January 15, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Robin Kelly did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Robin Kelly did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Robin Kelly did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

The following issues were listed on Kelly's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

Low Income Housing: As Congresswoman, I will take a balanced approach towards managing entitlements, through an even mix of revenue increases and spending cuts. But I pledge that I will support no deficit reduction agreement that increases poverty or income inequality.

Gun Control: While we don’t know who will represent Illinois’ second district in Congress, we do know that addressing the issue of gun violence will be among the very first issues they face. I believe we need more leaders in Congress addressing the issue of gun violence in our cities and our communities. For this reason, I believe we must all speak with one voice on this urgent matter.

Small Businesses: Whether it’s a small family grocery store like the one my grandparents owned or a budding tech firm, I want our community to be a thriving hub for small businesses, one that supports existing businesses and encourages new businesses to set up shop in the 2nd District.

Protecting Seniors: As your Congresswoman, I will fight to prevent cuts to Social Security and Medicare that will leave our seniors financially vulnerable.

The Middle Class: As your Congresswoman, I will fight back against the Republicans’ assault on the middle class and work to protect the social safety net that was put in place to help hardworking families in tough times. We cannot allow Congress to make dangerous budget cuts at the expense of the families that can least afford it.

[15]

—Robin Kelly's campaign website, http://robinkellyforcongress.org/issues/

Kelly's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[16]

Supporting Small Businesses

Excerpt: "Small businesses are the backbone of our nation’s economy and the engines of our recovery. As your next Congresswoman, I will work to make the business climate in the 2nd District one that nurtures and supports the entrepreneurial spirit."

Supporting the Middle Class

Excerpt: "I will fight back against the Republicans’ assault on the middle class and work to protect the social safety net that was put in place to help hardworking families in tough times."

Protecting Seniors

Excerpt: "I will work to protect Social Security and Medicare so that our seniors have the support they’ve earned and deserve."

Transportation

Excerpt: "I will work to create opportunities for residents and businesses in the 2nd District to participate in infrastructure projects in the district. It’s only right that our residents have a hand in projects that will help shape our future."

Women's Health

Excerpt: "I believe in a woman’s right to choose and in her right to make her own decisions about her body and her healthcare."

Constituent Services

Excerpt: "My door will always be open. And when I’m not in Washington, D.C. fighting for you, I’ll be traveling the District meeting with you, hearing your concerns and using them to inform the work I’ll do on your behalf."[15]