Kelly, Robin L. (Robin Lynne), 1956-

Robin Lynne Kelly (born April 30, 1956) is an American politician from Illinois who has served as the U.S. Representative from Illinois's 2nd congressional district since 2013. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Born in Harlem, Kelly attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, earning a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Master of Arts in counseling. From 1992 through 2006 she served as a Director of Community Affairs in Matteson, Illinois. She earned her Ph.D. in political science from Northern Illinois University in 2004. In 2002, Kelly successfully challenged a ten-year incumbent Illinois state representative in the Democratic primary and in November, she defeated her Republican opponent to win the first of her three consecutive terms in the Illinois House. In January 2007, she resigned her house seat to become Chief of Staff to Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. She was the first African-American woman to serve as chief of staff to an elected constitutional statewide officeholder. After falling short in her bid to become Treasurer of Illinois, Kelly was appointed to become chief administrative officer for Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle in 2011.

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