Robert Peters

Bio

Robert Peters is a Democratic candidate for Illinois' 2nd Congressional District in the March 17, 2026 primary. Peters was born and raised in Hyde Park, Chicago. He was born deaf to a mother who was addicted to drugs and was placed for adoption by a social worker mother and a civil rights attorney father — experiences that have profoundly shaped his legislative work. He earned his undergraduate degree from Kansas State University. He has worked for ICIRR (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights), Chicago Votes, and Reclaim Chicago, and served as Political Director for Daniel K. Biss's gubernatorial campaign. Peters is a dues-paying member of The People's Lobby and United Working Families. He was appointed to the Illinois State Senate District 13 (Hyde Park/South Shore/Kenwood) in 2019 to fill the vacancy left by Kwame Raoul (elevated to Illinois Attorney General), and won election outright in 2020 in a contested primary (53.3% vs. 46.7% for Ken Thomas). He won reelection unopposed in 2022 and 2024 (term through January 10, 2029). He is currently the Illinois Senate Majority Whip and chairs the Senate Labor Committee. Peters was the lead Senate sponsor of the landmark SAFE-T Act (SB 2835, signed January 22, 2021), Illinois' comprehensive criminal justice reform law that abolished cash bail and enacted wide-ranging law enforcement accountability measures. He raised $1.13M in FEC receipts as of February 25, 2026 — second in fundraising in the 11-candidate IL-02 primary, behind only Donna Miller ($1.97M). Peters entered the race after incumbent Robin Kelly stepped down to run for U.S. Senate.

Prior office: Illinois State Senator, District 13 (2019–present); Senate Majority Whip; Chair, Illinois Senate Labor Committee

Key Votes

• Yes — lead Senate sponsorSAFE-T Act (SB 2835) — Illinois Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act

  Peters was the lead Senate sponsor of Illinois' landmark criminal justice reform bill, signed by Gov. Pritzker on January 22, 2021. The law abolished cash bail (effective September 18, 2023), expanded pretrial rights, established new law enforcement accountability standards, required body cameras, and reformed use-of-force policies. It was the most significant criminal justice reform legislation in Illinois history.

• Yes — primary Senate sponsorIllinois Housing Justice Act — Tenant Protections / Just-Cause Eviction

  Peters was a primary Senate sponsor of legislation expanding tenant protections, including just-cause eviction standards to protect renters from arbitrary displacement.

• Yes — sponsoredSenior Property Tax Freeze Expansion

  Peters worked to expand the senior property tax freeze so seniors and working-class people could stay in their homes as property values increased, particularly in the South Shore and Hyde Park areas he represents.

• YesMinimum Wage Increase

  Voted to raise Illinois' minimum wage — part of the graduated minimum wage increase to $15/hour passed by the Illinois General Assembly in 2019.

• YesEnd State Sales Tax on Groceries

  Voted to eliminate the Illinois state sales tax on groceries to lower the cost of living for working families.

• ChampionICIRR / Immigrant Rights Legislation

  As someone who previously worked for ICIRR, Peters has been a consistent advocate for immigrant rights protections in the Illinois Senate, opposing ICE enforcement overreach and championing protections for immigrant communities.