Endorsements
State Senator and candidate for Congress Mike Simmons has proudly received the endorsement of elected leaders, advocacy organizations and organized labor, and champions for justice. This mosaic of support highlights Mike’s strong support across the 9th Congressional District:
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Current and Former Elected Officials
- Chicago Alderwoman Maria Hadden (49th Ward), Chicago City Council Progressive Reform Caucus Co-Chair
- Illinois State Senator Lakesia Collins (5th District)
- Former Majority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives and the first openly gay person to hold that post, Greg Harris (13th District)
- Rachel Ventura, progressive Illinois State Senator (43rd District)
- Elected Chicago School Board Member and Rogers Park community organizer Ebony DeBerry
- Dee Darling, McHenry County District 26 Cary School Board President and Chapter President of McHenry County National Organization for Women
- Avon Township Clerk and the first transgender person ever elected to a non-judicial office in Illinois, and first transgender elected official in Lake County Kristal Larson
- Teacher, Skokie Community Leader and District 73.5 Board of Education Member Elana Jacobs
- Former Evanston 9th Ward Alderwoman Cicely Fleming
- Harry Osterman, Former 48th Ward Alderman and Illinois Representative (14th District)
- Congressional Black Caucus PAC, a national leader in increasing the number of African Americans in the U.S. Congress, supporting non-Black candidates that champion our interests, and promoting African American participation in the political process
- Equality PAC, the political arm of the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus, dedicated to the full legal and societal equality for LGBTQ Americans
- 48th Ward Neighbors for Justice, an independent political organization supporting leftist causes and representing the political interests of the multiracial working class in Edgewater, Andersonville, Uptown, and neighborhoods across the city
- ATU Local 241 representing nearly 10,000 transit workers and operators in Chicagoland
- ATU Local 308 representing over 4,000 rail employees in Chicagoland
- CCCTU Local 1600 representing over 5,000 community college teachers and workers across Cook County
- Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 representing over 5,000 active and thousands more retired of Chicago's Bravest
- LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, who help elect pro-equality, pro-choice, LGBTQ+ candidates to public office
- American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee, an advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening U.S.-Ethiopia relations and promoting democracy and human rights in the US and Ethiopia
- Rev. Dr. Marilyn Pagán-Banks, Pastor at San Lucas United Church of Christ
- Rev. Kim Shelton, Senior Pastor of Good News Community Church in Chicago
- PC Gooden-Smiley, President of Buttercup Park Advisory Council
- Kim Hunt, long term queer advocate
- Dalila Fridi & Elizabeth McKnight, Member and Supporters of the Chicago LGBT Hall Of Fame
- Brian Johnson, Founder of Reimagining Capitalism Lab
- Channyn Parker, dedicated LGBTQ+ advocate and leader
- Art Johnston and Pepe Peña, LGBTQ+ Rights leaders and owners of the iconic gay bar Sidetrack
- Iggy Ladden, Founder of Chicago-based LGBTQ+ mental health & wellbeing organization
- Kevin Hauswirth, Queer Activist and Social Entrepreneur
- Rob Fojtik, LGBTQ+ Community Leader
- Justin Hill, Research and Policy Analyst at Westside Health Authority
- John Litchfield & Joe Olszewski, LGBTQ+ Advocates and Leaders
- Chirag G. Badlani, Executive Director of a leading social justice and equity organization
- KJ Whitehead, Black and Trans Comedian & Community Leader
Labor Unions and Advocacy Organizations
Community Leaders and Fighters for Justice
