Mark Kirk facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Mark Kirk
Official portrait, 2010

United States Senator from Illinois
In office November 29, 2010 – January 3, 2017
Preceded by	Roland Burris
Succeeded by	Tammy Duckworth
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 10th district
In office January 3, 2001 – November 29, 2010
Preceded by	John Porter
Succeeded by	Bob Dold

Personal details
Born	Mark Steven Kirk (1959-09-15) September 15, 1959 (age 65) Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Kimberly Vertolli (m. 2001; div. 2009)
Education	Cornell University (BA) London School of Economics (MSc) Georgetown University (JD)
Website	(Archived)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1989–2013
Rank	Commander
Unit	Naval Intelligence
Battles/wars	NATO bombing of Yugoslavia Operation Northern Watch

Mark Steven Kirk (born September 15, 1959) is an American politician who used to be a U.S. Senator for Illinois. He served in the Senate from 2010 to 2017. Before that, he was a U.S. Representative for Illinois from 2001 to 2010. He is a member of the Republican Party. Kirk has described his political views as being socially liberal and fiscally conservative. As of 2025, he is the last Republican to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate.

Mark Kirk was born in Champaign, Illinois. He studied at Cornell University, the London School of Economics, and Georgetown University Law Center. He worked as a lawyer for many years. In 1989, he joined the United States Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer. He was called to active duty during the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and later for Operation Northern Watch in Iraq. He reached the rank of Commander and retired from the Navy Reserve in 2013.

Kirk was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2000. In November 2010, while still a Representative, he won two elections for the Senate. He won to finish the last few months of former Senator Barack Obama's term and to serve the next six-year term. He became a Senator on November 29, 2010. In January 2012, Kirk had a stroke. He returned to his Senate duties almost a year later. In 2016, he ran for re-election but lost to Democrat Tammy Duckworth.

Early Life and Education

Kirk as president of Seal and Serpent in 1981.

Mark Kirk was born in Champaign, Illinois, to Judith Ann and Francis Gabriel Kirk. He graduated from New Trier East High School in 1977. He then attended Blackburn College for two years.

After that, he briefly studied at the Autonomous University of Mexico. He then transferred to Cornell University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. While at Cornell, Kirk was the president of the Seal and Serpent social fraternity. Later, he earned a master's degree from the London School of Economics. He also received a law degree (Juris Doctor) from Georgetown University Law Center.

Early Career and Public Service

While at Cornell University, Kirk worked at a nursery school. After getting his master's degree, he taught for one year at a private school in London. He later worked in Congressman John Porter's office, becoming his chief of staff.

After 1990, Kirk worked at the World Bank. He also served as an aide at the State Department, helping with the peace process in Central America. He practiced international law for two years. Then, he spent four years as a lawyer for the House International Relations Committee.

Military Service and Awards

Mark Kirk became an intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve in 1989.

In 1999, he was called to active duty during Operation Allied Force, which involved the bombing of Yugoslavia. He served from April to June 1999 as an intelligence officer. In May 2000, his intelligence unit received an award called the Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor Award.

In March and April 2000, Kirk flew over Iraq as part of Operation Northern Watch. This operation helped enforce a no-fly zone over northern Iraq. Kirk retired from the Navy Reserve in May 2013, after 23 years of service.

Military Awards and Recognition

In his official retirement photo, Mark Kirk's awards included:

Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Services Commendation Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with Service Star
National Defense Service Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" device
NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia
NATO Medal for Kosovo

His uniform also showed the Navy Information Dominance Officer badge and the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.

U.S. House of Representatives

Mark Kirk during the 107th Congress.

Elections to the House

Mark Kirk was elected to the House of Representatives in 2000. He took over the seat from the retiring Congressman John Porter. Kirk won with 51% of the vote. He was re-elected easily in 2002 and 2004. He won against Dan Seals in 2006 and again in 2008.

Time in the House

While in the House, Kirk was known for having moderate views. He often voted more liberally on social issues and more conservatively on foreign policy.

He was part of several groups, including the House Iran Working Group and the U.S.-China Working Group. He also co-chaired the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. Kirk was the chair of The Tuesday Group, which is a group of moderate Republicans in the House. He was also a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

In 2004, Kirk helped pass an amendment that required the Congressional Budget Office to compare planned spending with actual spending each year. He also worked to stop spending on the Alaska "bridge to nowhere." In 2006, Kirk supported expanding O'Hare Airport and worked to clean up Lake Michigan.

United States Senate

Senate Elections

2010 Senate Election

On July 20, 2009, Mark Kirk announced he would run for the U.S. Senate seat in Illinois. This seat was previously held by Barack Obama before he became president. On February 2, 2010, Kirk won the Republican primary election. He then ran against Democrat Alexi Giannoulias. Kirk won the election for the full six-year term, getting 48% of the votes.

2016 Senate Election

After having a stroke in 2012, there was some talk that Kirk might resign. However, in June 2013, he confirmed he planned to run for re-election. He won the Republican primary against James Marter. In the general election, he faced Democratic Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth.

During a debate in October 2016, Kirk made a comment about Tammy Duckworth's family history. This comment was seen as offensive and racist by some. As a result, the Human Rights Campaign took back their support for Kirk and instead supported Duckworth. On November 8, 2016, Kirk lost the election to Tammy Duckworth.

Political Views and Actions

Mark Kirk is considered a moderate Republican. He was sworn in as a U.S. Senator from Illinois on November 29, 2010. He is known for being socially moderate and fiscally conservative. In June 2016, Kirk withdrew his support for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. He said this was because of Trump's "attacks on Hispanics, women and the disabled like me." Kirk said he would write in former CIA Director David Petraeus.

Kirk was ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of the U.S. Senate. This means he often worked with members of the other political party.

Working on Infrastructure and Transportation

In his first year in the Senate, Kirk worked with Senator Dick Durbin to help solve a disagreement about O'Hare International Airport. This helped keep the airport's modernization project on track. This project was expected to create many jobs.

Kirk and Durbin also worked together to get $186 million in federal money. This money was used to improve train service from Chicago to St. Louis. Kirk also wrote a bill to encourage private companies to invest in roads, transit, airports, and railways. Some parts of his bill later became law.

Environmental Protection Efforts

Kirk co-chaired the Senate's Great Lakes Task Force. In 2013, he helped introduce the Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act (GLEEPA). This law provides more money to protect the Great Lakes. It helps restore wetlands, control invasive species, and regulate pollution. Kirk has always supported efforts to keep invasive Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes.

Kirk agrees with the scientific view on climate change.

Views on Social Issues

Kirk voted to renew the Violence Against Women Act in 2013.

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In December 2010, Kirk voted to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." This policy had prevented openly gay people from serving in the military. In 2015, he was one of 11 Republican Senators who voted to offer social security benefits to same-sex couples.

On April 2, 2013, Kirk became the second Republican U.S. Senator to support same-sex marriage. He was given a 100% score by the Human Rights Campaign, which supports LGBT rights. Kirk also supported the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). This law would stop discrimination in jobs based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In January 2016, Kirk was the first Republican U.S. Senator to co-sponsor the Equality Act. This act would make it illegal to discriminate based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Gun Policy Stance

Mark Kirk is the only Republican U.S. Senator to receive an "F" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund. This group supports gun rights. In 2015, he received an award from the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence. He supports background checks for gun sales. In 2013, he was the only Republican senator to vote for a ban on assault weapons.

Personal Life and Health

In February 1998, Mark Kirk met Kimberly Vertolli, who was also a Naval Intelligence Officer. They married in 2001 and divorced in 2009.

Stroke and Recovery

On January 21, 2012, when he was 52, Kirk had a stroke. Two days later, he had brain surgery in Chicago. He had weakness on his left side and spent several months in a physical rehabilitation center.

On May 1, 2012, Kirk went home from the rehabilitation center. His family said he would continue his recovery at home. A week later, a video showed Kirk walking on a treadmill. In November, he climbed 37 floors of the Willis Tower as part of a challenge.

On January 3, 2013, Kirk returned to the Capitol for the first time since his stroke. He was helped up the Capitol steps by Vice President Joe Biden. Kirk continued his role as Senator, sometimes using a cane or wheelchair. He said his public role motivated him to return to work. He also wanted to be an example for families dealing with stroke.

Images for kids

Official portrait, 2010
Kirk as president of Seal and Serpent in 1981.
Kirk during the 107th United States Congress