Kimberly Lightford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kimberly Lightford
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| Majority Leader of Illinois Senate | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | James Clayborne Jr. |
| Member of the Illinois Senate from the 4th district |
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| Assumed office November 20, 1998 |
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| Preceded by | Earlean Collins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 10, 1968 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Western Illinois University (BA) University of Illinois, Springfield (MPA) |
Kimberly Ann Lightford, born on May 10, 1968, is an important leader in the Illinois Senate. She is a member of the Democratic Party and has represented the 4th district since 1998. Currently, she serves as the Senate Majority Leader, which means she helps guide the work of her party in the Senate. She also works on important committees that deal with topics like education, money, and how laws are made.
Contents
About Kimberly Lightford
Early Life and Education
Kimberly Lightford grew up in Illinois. She went to Proviso East High School. After high school, she attended Western Illinois University. There, she joined a sorority called Delta Sigma Theta.
Later, she continued her education at the University of Illinois Springfield. She earned a master's degree in Public Administration (MPA). During her studies, she gained experience by working with the Illinois Department of Corrections. After finishing her degree, she took a job with the Department of Corrections in Chicago.
Starting in Politics
Kimberly Lightford was encouraged by her state representative to get involved in local government. She successfully ran for a position as a Maywood Village Trustee. This was her first step into public service.
When State Senator Earlean Collins announced she would retire, Lightford decided to run for the open seat. She won the election in March 1998. She began serving in the Illinois Senate in November of that year.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
As a state senator, Kimberly Lightford works on many important issues for Illinois. She is the Senate Majority Leader. This role means she helps lead the Democratic Party's efforts in the Senate. She also serves on several important committees. These committees help shape laws related to labor, education, and how the government operates.
She is also the chair of the Senate Black Caucus. This group focuses on issues important to Black communities in Illinois. She also helps lead the Illinois Commission of Intergovernmental Cooperation. This commission helps different levels of government work together.
Important Moments in Her Career
In 2016, the Illinois Senate passed a temporary budget bill. Senator Lightford spoke about the importance of legislators being paid for their work. She believed it was wrong for their income to be held up for long periods.
In 2018, when J. B. Pritzker was elected Governor, he asked Lightford to join his team. She was part of the Educational Success transition committee. This committee helped plan state education policies.
In 2020, when the Senate President announced his retirement, Kimberly Lightford was considered for the role. If she had been chosen, she would have been the first woman to hold that position. While she was not selected, she showed her support for the chosen candidate, Don Harmon.
In December 2021, Senator Lightford and her husband were involved in a scary incident. They were targeted by criminals. Her husband, who was legally carrying a firearm, was able to protect them both. She later shared that she was grateful for his actions.
Current Committee Work
As of July 2025, Senator Lightford is a member of several important committees in the Illinois Senate. These committees help make decisions on various topics:
- Appropriations - Education Committee (deals with money for schools)
- Assignments Committee (she is the Chairwoman, helping decide which bills go to which committees)
- Education Committee (focuses on school-related laws)
- Executive Committee (handles important government operations)
- Higher Education Committees (works on issues for colleges and universities)
- Labor Committee (deals with laws about workers and jobs)
- Redistricting - Chicago West and Western Cook County Subcommittee (she is the Chairwoman, working on how voting districts are drawn)
Political Views
Kimberly Lightford supports the right of law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed handgun. This means she believes people who follow the law should be able to carry a hidden firearm for protection.
See also
- Chicago metropolitan area
- Gun violence in Chicago
