{{Short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Similar names|Michael Simmons (disambiguation){{!}}Michael Simmons}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Mike Simmons |image = 6-17-25 world refugee day advocacy event Mike Simmons (cropped).jpg |caption = Simmons in 2025 |state_senate = Illinois |district = 7th |term_start = February 6, 2021 |term_end = |predecessor = Heather Steans |successor = |birth_date = {{birth year and age|1983}} |birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Democratic |education = Amherst College (BA) }} '''Michael Simmons''' (born 1983)<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Hinton|first=Rachel|date=2021-02-06|title=North Side Democrats choose former Rahm Emanuel policy director to fill Sen. Heather Steans' seat|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2021/2/6/22270500/mike-simmons-north-side-democrats-heather-steans-state-senate-cook-county-democratic-party|access-date=2021-02-08|website=Chicago Sun-Times|language=en}}</ref> is an American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate from the 7th district, which includes the Chicago neighborhoods of Rogers Park, Edgewater, Andersonville, Uptown, and Lincoln Square.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2021-02-21 |title=State Sen. Mike Simmons wants to focus on the economic struggles of the unseen in his North Side district |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/2/21/22286261/mike-simmons-heather-steans-kelly-cassidy-edgewater-north-side-illinois-senate |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref> He was appointed to the office in February 2021,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Hagerty|first=Erin|date=2021-02-08|title=Michael Simmons Sworn In As Newest State Senator, Beating Out Cassidy For Far North Side Seat|url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/02/08/michael-simmons-sworn-in-as-newest-state-senator-beating-out-cassidy-for-far-north-side-seat/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-08|website=Block Club Chicago|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Senate Member Details|url=https://my.ilga.gov/Member/Index/3008?tab=1&chamber=S|access-date=2021-02-08|website=my.ilga.gov}}</ref> and was re-elected in 2022 and 2024, running unopposed both times. Simmons ran in the 2026 Democratic primary election for Illinois's 9th congressional district, placing fourth.
== Early life and education == Simmons was born in Chicago to an African American mother and an Ethiopian father who came to the United States as a refugee. He was raised in public housing in the Lincoln Square neighborhood.<ref name="WLS">{{cite web|url=https://abc7chicago.com/mike-simmons-gay-senator-uptown-chicago/10358126/|title=Illinois' 1st openly gay state senator hopes to inspire|date=February 21, 2021|access-date=July 9, 2025|website=WLS-TV}}</ref> He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Amherst College.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mike Simmons|url=https://upswell.org/speaker/mike-simmons/|access-date=2021-02-08|website=Upswell|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Early political career == As an undergraduate student, Simmons worked as an intern in the United States Senate office of Barack Obama. From 2007 to 2009, he worked as a staff assistant and legislative correspondent in the office of Senator Dick Durbin. From 2009 to 2011, he was the policy director for Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer. He served as policy director for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel from 2011 to 2013 and as deputy commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development from 2013 to 2016.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kapos|first=Shia|date=2021-02-08|title=SURPRISE! IT's SEN. SIMMONS — TRACY NAMED GOP CHAIR — TEACHER STRIKE AVERTED?|url=https://politi.co/36T7Jtb|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-08|website=POLITICO|language=en}}</ref> After leaving the city government in 2016, Simmons spent a year traveling in West Africa and the Balkans.<ref name=":4" /> In 2017, he founded Blue Sky Strategies, a public policy and consulting firm focused on "equitable urban planning and anti-racism in public policy."<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2019-07-29|title=Chicago's Notable LGBTQ Executives - Mike Simmons|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/awards/mike-simmons|access-date=2021-02-08|website=Crain's Chicago Business|language=en}}</ref> In June 2020, Simmons became deputy director of My Brother's Keeper Alliance, an initiative managed by the Obama Foundation.<ref name=":1" />
== Illinois Senate ==
=== Appointment and elections === On February 6, 2021, Simmons was appointed to the Illinois Senate, succeeding retiring incumbent Heather Steans.<ref name=":0" /> The appointment was made by elected committeepeople of the Cook County Democratic Party representing the wards and townships covered by the 7th district. State Representative Kelly Cassidy was reported as the frontrunner for the appointment soon after Steans announced her retirement.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ward|first=Joe|date=2021-02-04|title=After Sudden Retirement, 6 Candidates Seek Appointment To Become Far North Side's State Senator|url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/02/04/after-sudden-retirement-6-candidates-seek-appointment-to-become-far-north-sides-state-senator/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-09|website=Block Club Chicago|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hinton|first=Rachel|date=2021-01-26|title=No 'smoke-filled' Zoom: Rep. Kelly Cassidy defends process to fill Steans' state Senate seat|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2021/1/26/22251197/candidates-steans-state-senate-seat-cassidy-simmons-koziatek-indivisible|access-date=2021-02-09|website=Chicago Sun-Times|language=en}}</ref> However, Simmons secured the position after earning the support of 48th ward alderman Harry Osterman (who held the largest weighted share of the votes in the appointment process) and three other committeepeople.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> He is the first Ethiopian American and openly gay member of the Illinois State Senate.<ref name="WLS" />
Simmons won re-election to the seat in the 2022 and 2024 elections, running unopposed both times.
=== Tenure === In 2021, Simmons introduced a bill to address hair discrimination in schools that would prohibit schools from applying uniform or dress code policies to hairstyles, with the goal of prohibiting discrimination faced especially by African American students for traditional hairstyles such as dreadlocks, cornrows, and braids.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hinton |first=Rachel |date=2021-05-12 |title=Senator champions bill to ban hair discrimination in schools |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2021/5/11/22431305/senator-mike-simmons-hair-discrimination-bill-racism-natural-free-form-locs |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-13 |title=Gov. Pritzker Signs Jett Hawkins Act To Ban Discrimination Against Braids, Dreadlocks - CBS Chicago |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/pritzker-jett-hawkins-act/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}</ref> The bill was named the Jett Hawkins Act, after a 4-year-old child who was told to remove his braids by school administrators.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Azari |first=Aryana |date=2021-08-17 |title=Mom's fight against hair bias sparks statewide changes in Illinois |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Family/moms-fight-hair-bias-spark-statewide-illinois/story?id=78425465 |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> The bill was passed later that year and signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker at Uplift Community High School, located in Simmons' district.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-14 |title=Kids to be protected from hair discrimination in schools: 'Our existence deserves to be celebrated, not just tolerated' |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2021/8/13/22624118/hair-discrimination-bill-pritzker-mike-simmons-jett-hawkins-ida-nelson |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref>
Since 2021, Simmons has advocated for a permanent state-level child tax credit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-08 |title=Simmons calls for $600-per-child tax credit for struggling families |url=https://senatormikesimmons.com/news/press-releases/11-simmons-simmons-calls-for-600-per-child-tax-credit-for-struggling-families |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=senatormikesimmons.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> In 2023, he sponsored a bill that would provide a credit of $700 per child under age 17.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minnis |first=Glenn |date=2024-01-31 |title=State senator pushes for permanent child tax credit in Illinois |url=https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_f3c27eae-c05c-11ee-b1d3-87f5b71d9ac8.html |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=The Center Square |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2024-04-14 |title=Gov. J.B. Pritzker's 'pragmatic progressive' approach being put to the test |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/04/14/gov-j-b-pritzkers-pragmatic-progressive-approach-being-put-to-the-test/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-04 |title=Simmons advocates for Child Tax Credit, SNAP benefits in subject matter hearings |url=https://www.senatormikesimmons.com/news/press-releases/194-simmons-advocates-for-child-tax-credit-snap-benefits-in-subject-matter-hearings |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=www.senatormikesimmons.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> He pointed to the impact of the federal American Rescue Plan Act's temporary child tax credit expansion on reducing child poverty, and argued that Illinois could continue those reductions through a permanent state version.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simmons |first=Mike |date=2024-02-20 |title=A permanent Illinois child tax credit would put a serious dent in poverty |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/letters-to-the-editor/2024/02/19/permanent-illinois-child-tax-credit-reduce-poverty-senator-mike-simmons-auto-show-letters |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref> Governor Pritzker's budget proposal in 2024 allocated $12 million for a more modest child tax credit applying to children under age 3.<ref name=":5" /> The final budget passed by the General Assembly allocated $150 million for a credit of up to $300 per child under age 12.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-26 |title=Simmons on Budget Passage: New Child Tax Credit will Ease Economic Strain for Countless Households across Illinois |url=https://www.senatormikesimmons.com/news/press-releases/300-simmons-on-budget-passage-new-child-tax-credit-will-ease-economic-strain-for-countless-households-across-illinois |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=www.senatormikesimmons.com |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-29 |title=Illinois Legislature Passes $150M Child Tax Credit |url=https://economicsecurityproject.org/news/illinois-legislature-passes-150m-child-tax-credit/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Economic Security Project |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2023, as part of the budget for the next fiscal year, Simmons secured $2.5 million in funding for $10,000 micro-grants for small businesses facing financial hardships in the 7th district.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Padar |first=Kayleigh |date=2023-12-13 |title=Struggling Small Businesses On The Far North Side Can Apply For $10,000 Grant |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/12/13/struggling-small-businesses-on-the-far-north-side-can-now-apply-for-10000-grant/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Block Club Chicago |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-12 |title=Simmons announces $2.5 million in funding to launch 7th District Small Business Restoration Grant on Chicago's Far North Side |url=https://senatormikesimmons.com/news/press-releases/257-simmons-announces-2-5-million-in-funding-to-launch-7th-district-small-business-restoration-grant-on-chicago-s-far-north-side?highlight=WzIwMjRd |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=senatormikesimmons.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> The grants were allocated to 225 small businesses in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-20 |title=Simmons Announces $2.5 Million Awarded to 225 Small Businesses in 7th District! |url=https://senatormikesimmons.com/news/newsletters/302-simmons-announces-2-5-million-awarded-to-225-small-businesses-in-7th-district |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=senatormikesimmons.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>
Simmons has advocated for public transit improvements and access in Chicago. In 2023, he was the chief sponsor of enacted legislation to accelerate the adoption of electric buses and offer reduced fares for survivors of domestic violence and participants in youth jobs programs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-04 |title=Simmons celebrates signage of comprehensive public transit bill |url=https://www.senatormikesimmons.com/news/press-releases/234-simmons-celebrates-signage-of-comprehensive-public-transit-bill |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=www.senatormikesimmons.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> In 2024, after the announcement of plans for overhauling the northernmost part of Lake Shore Drive, he criticized the plan for being "incremental" in its changes to facilitate express bus travel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Filbin |first=Patrick |date=2024-08-09 |title=DuSable Lake Shore Drive Redesign Plan Is 'Not Good Enough,' Critics Say |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/08/08/elected-officials-advocates-blast-dusable-lake-shore-drive-redesign-plan-its-not-good-enough/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Block Club Chicago |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2025, he sponsored a bill to provide free transit for low-income individuals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-15 |title=Simmons Fights for RTA Free Transit for Low-Income Individuals |url=https://www.illinoissenatedemocrats.com/caucus-news/74-senator-mike-simmons-news/6312-simmons-fights-for-rta-free-transit-for-low-income-individuals |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=www.illinoissenatedemocrats.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> During the debate over the "fiscal cliff" facing the Regional Transportation Authority in 2025, he supported a proposal to create an integrated regional transit system.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Simmons |first1=Mike |last2=Grimshaw |first2=Jacky |date=2025-04-13 |title=Unified whole for transit |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/13/letters-041325/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>
Simmons supports transgender rights and supports providing gender affirming care to youth that identify as transgender. He introduced the ''Gender Affirming Healthcare Protection Act'' on November 22, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bill proposes to make Illinois a sanctuary for trans, gender diverse people |url=https://illinoiseagle.com/2022/12/05/bill-proposes-to-make-illinois-a-sanctuary-for-trans-gender-diverse-people/ |access-date=5 December 2022 |ref=34}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Three states mulling protections for gender-affirming health care |work=The Hill |date=29 December 2022 |url=https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/diversity-inclusion/3791028-three-states-mulling-protections-for-gender-affirming-health-care/ |access-date=29 December 2022 |ref=34 |last1=Migdon |first1=Brooke }}</ref>
Simmons supports gun control and describes himself as aggressively supporting gun control legislation, and says that he strongly supports a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines at the state and federal level.<ref name="weaponsban">{{cite web |title=Simmons holds People's Legislative Council on gun violence |url=https://citizennewspapergroup.com/news/2022/nov/23/simmons-holds-peoples-legislative-council-gun-viol/ |ref=45}}</ref>
=== Committees === In the 2023-24 term, Simmons chaired the Senate's Committee on Human Rights.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Legislative Information System |date=2024-06-14 |title=Mike Simmons (D) - Member Details - 103rd General Assembly |url=https://ilga.gov/Senate/Members/Details/3196 |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Illinois General Assembly |language=en}}</ref> In the 2025-26 term, Simmons is the chair of the Committee on Public Health.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Legislative Information System |date=2024-06-14 |title=Mike Simmons (D) - Member Details - 105th General Assembly |url=https://ilga.gov/Senate/Members/Details/3398 |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Illinois General Assembly |language=en}}</ref> Since the beginning of his tenure in 2023, he has also been a member of the committees on Behavioral and Mental Health and Transportation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Legislative Information System |date=2024-06-14 |title=Mike Simmons (D) - Member Details - 102nd General Assembly |url=https://ilga.gov/Senate/Members/Details/3008 |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Illinois General Assembly |language=en}}</ref>
== 2026 congressional candidacy == {{See also|2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois#District 9}} On July 8, 2025, Simmons announced his candidacy in the 2026 Democratic primary election for Illinois' 9th congressional district, to replace retiring incumbent Jan Schakowsky.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Olander |first=Olivia |date=2025-07-08 |title=Competition for 9th Congressional District heats up as 2 state legislators join large Democratic field |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/08/competition-for-9th-congressional-district-heats-up-as-2-state-legislators-join-large-democratic-field/ |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> Daniel Biss won the primary election, securing 29.6% of the vote in the field of 15 candidates.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Elena |title=Daniel Biss wins Democratic primary for closely-watched Illinois House seat |url=https://www.npr.org/2026/03/17/nx-s1-5751169/illinois-primary-ninth-district-daniel-biss-kat-abughazaleh |access-date=20 March 2026 |agency=NPR |date=17 March 2026}}</ref>
==Electoral results== {{Election box begin no change | title = 2026 U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois's 9th Congressional District - Democratic primary results<ref>{{cite web |title=Illinois Ninth Congressional District Primary 2026: Live Election Results |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/elections/results-illinois-us-house-9-primary.html |publisher=New York Times |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Daniel Biss | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 36,781 | percentage = 29.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Kat Abughazaleh | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 32,271 | percentage = 25.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Laura Fine | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 25,326 | percentage = 20.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Mike Simmons | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 8,647 | percentage = 7.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Phil Andrew | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 7,709 | percentage = 6.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Bushra Amiwala | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 6,240 | percentage = 5.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Hoan Huynh | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 2,174 | percentage = 1.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Patricia Brown | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 1,600 | percentage = 1.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jeff Cohen | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 1,041 | percentage = 0.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Justin Ford | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 748 | percentage = 0.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Bethany Johnson | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 613 | percentage = 0.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Sam Polan | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 508 | percentage = 0.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Howard Rosenblum | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 296 | percentage = 0.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Nick Pyati | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 227 | percentage = 0.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Mark Fredrickson | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 213 | percentage = 0.2 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 124,201 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box end}}
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Illinois Senate}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, Mike}} Category:1983 births Category:20th-century African-American politicians Category:21st-century African-American politicians Category:21st-century members of the Illinois General Assembly Category:African-American LGBTQ people Category:American people of Ethiopian descent Category:African-American people in Illinois politics Category:American gay politicians Category:Amherst College alumni Category:Democratic Party Illinois state senators Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Illinois Category:Living people Category:Politicians from Chicago Category:Candidates in the 2026 United States House of Representatives elections