Mike Simmons facts for kids

Michael Simmons (born in 1983) is an American politician. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Currently, he serves in the Illinois Senate for the 7th district. He was chosen for this role in February 2021. He took the place of Senator Heather Steans, who was retiring.

Early Life and Education

Simmons was born in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. He went to Amherst College. There, he earned a degree in political science.

Political Career

While in college, Simmons worked as an intern. He worked in the office of Barack Obama, who was a U.S. Senator at the time. After college, from 2007 to 2009, he worked for Senator Dick Durbin. He helped with office tasks and wrote letters about laws.

Later, he became a policy director. From 2009 to 2011, he worked for Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer. From 2011 to 2013, he was a policy director for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. He also worked for the Chicago Department of Planning and Development.

In September 2017, Simmons started his own company. It is called Blue Sky Strategies. This company helps with public policy and gives advice. In June 2020, he joined the My Brother's Keeper Alliance. This group is part of the Obama Foundation.

On February 6, 2021, Simmons was chosen for the Illinois Senate. He became a state senator for the 7th district. Local leaders from the Cook County Democratic Party picked him. These leaders represent different areas in the district.

Key Issues

Supporting Healthcare Access

Senator Simmons is a member of several committees that focus on healthcare. These include the Healthcare Access and Availability Committee. He works to make sure people can get the medical care they need.

Public Safety and Gun Laws

Simmons strongly supports laws that control guns. He believes in banning certain types of weapons. He also supports banning large-capacity magazines. He works for these laws at both state and national levels.