Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz

Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives; from the 17th district
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; January 6, 2019
Preceded by	Laura Fine
Personal details
Political party	Democratic
Children	3
Residence(s)	Glenview, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	Indiana University (BA); Loyola University (JD); Northwestern University (LLM)
Occupation	Illinois State Representative
Profession	Human Rights Attorney
Committees	Immigration & Human Rights Committee (Chairperson); Energy & Environment; Judiciary - Civil (Chairperson); Mental Health & Addiction
Website	ILGA Page

Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 17th district. The 17th district includes all or parts of Evanston, Glenview, Golf, Morton Grove, Northbrook, Skokie and Wilmette.^[2]

Electoral career

Gong-Gershowitz received the Democratic nomination in the election to succeed Rep. Laura Fine, who was not seeking re-election and instead running for Illinois State Senate. Gong-Gershowitz won the 2018 general election with 69.2% of the vote and was re-elected in 2020. She was sworn in to her second term in 2021. She is the second Chinese American to serve in the Illinois General Assembly after Theresa Mah.^[3]

Illinois House of Representatives

Committees

Gong-Gershowitz currently serves on four committees: the Immigration & Human Rights committee; the Energy & Environment committee; the Judiciary - Civil committee; and the Mental Health & Addiction committee. Additionally, she is the chairperson for both the Immigration & Human Rights committee and the Judiciary - Civil committee.

Legislation

Gong-Gershowitz has introduced several bills that have gone on to become law. This includes HB0376, which requires Illinois schools to create a unit of curriculum dedicated to studying Asian-American history,^[4] as well as HB0709, which required the Illinois Department of Human Services "to conduct a public information campaign to educate immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and other noncitizens residing in Illinois of their rights under the U.S. Constitution and Illinois laws that apply regardless of immigration status."^[5]

Personal life

Gong-Gershowitz resides in Glenview with her husband and three sons. She is a human rights attorney by trade.

Electoral history

Illinois 17th Representative Democratic Primary, 2018^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz	7,800	36.61
	Democratic	Candance Chow	7,165	33.63
	Democratic	Mary Rita Luecke	3,526	16.55
	Democratic	Alexandra Eidenberg	1,812	8.51
	Democratic	Pete Dagher	1,002	4.70
Total votes			21,305	100.0

Illinois 17th Representative District General Election, 2018^[7]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz	34,328	69.20
	Republican	Peter Lee	15,281	30.80
Total votes			49,609	100.0

Illinois 17th Representative District General Election, 2020^[8]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (incumbent)	42,471	67.62	−1.58%
	Republican	Yesoe Yoon	18728	29.82	−0.98%
	Green	Christopher Kruger	1606	2.56	N/A
Total votes			62,805	100.0

Illinois 17th Representative District General Election, 2022^[9]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (incumbent)	29,057	71.38	+3.76%
	Republican	Bradley Martin	11648	28.62	−1.20%
Total votes			40,705	100.0

References

^ "Biography". ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
^ "PA 97-0006 Legislative District 9" (PDF). May 18, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
^ Gong-Gershowitz, Jennifer (March 5, 2018). "Democratic candidate for Illinois House, 17th District: Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz" (Interview). Interviewed by Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board. Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 11, 2018. My name is Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz. I'm the granddaughter of Chinese immigrants whose legacy inspired me to do human rights and social justice work.
^ "Bill Status of HB0376". ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
^ "Bill Status of HB0709". ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
^ "Election Results 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 10, 2022.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 10, 2022.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Election Results 2020 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. December 4, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2022.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Election Results 2022 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2023-12-04.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

External links

[1] "Biography". ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 4 March 2022.

[2] "PA 97-0006 Legislative District 9" (PDF). May 18, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2018.

[3] Gong-Gershowitz, Jennifer (March 5, 2018). "Democratic candidate for Illinois House, 17th District: Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz" (Interview). Interviewed by Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board. Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 11, 2018. My name is Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz. I'm the granddaughter of Chinese immigrants whose legacy inspired me to do human rights and social justice work.

[4] "Bill Status of HB0376". ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 4 March 2022.

[5] "Bill Status of HB0709". ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 4 March 2022.

[6] "Election Results 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 10, 2022.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[7] "Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 10, 2022.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[8] "Election Results 2020 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. December 4, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2022.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[9] "Election Results 2022 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2023-12-04.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

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