Litesa Wallace facts for kids

Litesa E. Wallace is an American politician born in 1978. She served as a representative for the 67th district in the Illinois House of Representatives. This is a group of elected officials who help make laws for the state of Illinois. She held this position from August 2014 to January 2019.

Early Life and Education

Litesa Wallace was born in the city of Chicago, Illinois. She went to Western Illinois University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Later, she continued her studies at Northern Illinois University. There, she earned a Master of Arts degree in marriage and family counseling. She also received a Ph.D. in educational psychology. A Ph.D. is a very advanced university degree.

Political Career

Serving in the Illinois House

In August 2014, Litesa Wallace was chosen to join the Illinois House of Representatives. She was selected by the Democratic Party in Winnebago County. She took over the role from Charles E. Jefferson. Before becoming a representative herself, Wallace worked as the chief of staff for Mr. Jefferson. This means she was a main helper and advisor for him.

Running for Lieutenant Governor

In 2018, Litesa Wallace decided to run for a different important job: Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. This position is like a vice-president for the state. She ran alongside State Senator Daniel Biss. They were a team trying to get elected. Wallace said that she and Biss both wanted to help families. They supported things like childcare help, a higher minimum wage (meaning people earn more per hour), and better healthcare for everyone. They also believed that wealthy people should pay their fair share in taxes. However, they did not win the election.

Supporting a Presidential Campaign

In 2020, Litesa Wallace supported Bernie Sanders in his campaign to become president of the United States. She was part of his team during the early elections for the Democratic Party.

Running for Congress

In November 2021, Wallace announced she wanted to run for another big political job. She decided to try for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. This is a national position where people make laws for the entire country. She ran for the district known as Illinois's 17th congressional district in the 2022 election.