Kwame Raoul facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kwame Raoul
Raoul in 2009
42nd Attorney General of Illinois
Incumbent
Assumed office January 14, 2019
Governor	J. B. Pritzker
Preceded by	Lisa Madigan
Member of the Illinois Senate from the 13th district
In office November 6, 2004 – January 5, 2019
Preceded by	Barack Obama
Succeeded by	Robert Peters
Personal details
Born	(1964-09-30) September 30, 1964 (age 60) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Lisa Moore
Children	2
Education	DePaul University (BA) Illinois Institute of Technology (JD)

Kwame Raoul (born September 30, 1964) is an American lawyer and politician. He has been the top lawyer for the state of Illinois since 2019. This important job is called the Attorney General of Illinois. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Before becoming Attorney General, Raoul served in the Illinois Senate. He represented the 13th district from 2004 to 2019. He was first chosen to fill the seat after Barack Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004. Raoul then won several elections to keep his seat. During his time as a state senator, he worked on many important laws.

Early Life and Education

Kwame Raoul was born in Chicago, Illinois. His parents, Dr. Janin and Marie Therese Raoul, came to the United States from Haiti.

Raoul studied political science at DePaul University, where he earned his bachelor's degree. Later, he went to Chicago-Kent College of Law and earned his law degree. This education helped him become a lawyer and prepare for a career in public service.

Early Political Steps

Before joining the state Senate, Raoul tried to become an alderman in Chicago's 4th Ward. An alderman is a local leader who represents a specific part of a city. He ran for this position in 1995 and 1999 but was not successful. These early experiences helped him learn about politics and serving the community.

Serving in the Illinois Senate

Raoul became a state senator on November 6, 2004. He took over the seat that Barack Obama had left when Obama was elected to the United States Senate.

Making New Laws

As a state senator, Raoul worked on many important laws. He focused on making things fairer for people. He helped pass laws that made it easier for people to vote early in Illinois. He also worked to expand a program that helps families with low incomes pay for energy. Raoul also helped control the "Pay Day loan" industry, which offers short-term, high-interest loans.

He supported bills to improve early childhood education programs. These laws aimed to make sure young children get a good start in school. Raoul also worked on laws to help people who had been in prison get back into the community.

Justice and Safety

Raoul was a strong supporter of making changes to the justice system. He helped pass a major law that ended the death penalty in Illinois. He also worked on laws to protect people who help the police. These laws aimed to stop others from scaring or threatening those who cooperate with law enforcement officers.

Jobs and Economy

Raoul also focused on creating and keeping jobs in Illinois. He supported projects that helped businesses grow. He was a main supporter of a tax credit program called EDGE. This program helps companies keep and create jobs in the state. He also worked on changes to workers' compensation laws. These changes aimed to save money for Illinois employers.

Important Roles in the Senate

Raoul held several important leadership roles in the Senate. He was the chairman of the Senate's Pension and Investment Committee. In this role, he worked to make sure the state's pension systems were fair and free from corruption. He also led efforts to give more chances to businesses owned by minorities and women.

He was also the chairman of the Senate's Redistricting Committee. He helped create the Illinois Voting Rights Act. This law protects the voting rights of different groups of people in the state. Raoul also served as Chair of the Judiciary Committee and Vice-Chair of the Criminal Law Committee.

A Senate Seat Opportunity

After Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, his U.S. Senate seat became open. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich considered Raoul for the position. However, Raoul decided not to be considered for the seat. He was later replaced in the Illinois Senate by Robert Peters.

Work Outside the Senate

Raoul in 2009

Before becoming Attorney General, Raoul worked as a lawyer at a firm called Quarles & Brady. He focused on legal cases related to jobs and workers. He also used to be a prosecutor in Cook County. A prosecutor is a lawyer who works for the government to bring legal cases against people accused of crimes. He also worked as a senior lawyer for the City Colleges of Chicago.

Raoul has always been involved in his community. He ran free legal clinics to help people in his area. He also served on the boards of different legal and community groups. He coached youth basketball and volunteered for soccer teams. He also helped with voter registration drives.

Attorney General of Illinois

Becoming Attorney General

In September 2017, Raoul announced he would run for Attorney General of Illinois. This is a very important job. The Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the state. They act as the state's lawyer, protecting the rights of its citizens and enforcing laws.

Raoul won the Democratic primary election in March 2018. He then won the general election in November 2018, becoming the 42nd Attorney General of Illinois. He was re-elected for a second term in 2022.

What the Attorney General Does

As Attorney General, Raoul supports important issues. He believes in equal rights for everyone. He also supports increasing gun restrictions to make communities safer. He works to make the criminal justice system fairer for everyone.

Personal Life

Kwame Raoul lives in the Hyde Park/Kenwood area of Chicago. He is married to Dr. Lisa Moore, and they have two children, Che and Mizan. He is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and the Chicago Chapter of 100 Black Men. Raoul is also a survivor of prostate cancer. In 2020, his office announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19, but he recovered. Raoul was raised in the Catholic faith.