Debbie Halvorson | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 11th district |
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In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011 |
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Preceded by | Jerry Weller |
Succeeded by | Adam Kinzinger |
Member of the Illinois Senate from the 40th district |
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In office January 8, 1997 – January 3, 2009 |
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Preceded by | Aldo DeAngelis |
Succeeded by | Toi Hutchinson |
Personal details | |
Born |
Chicago Heights, Illinois |
March 1, 1958
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Jim Bush |
Residence | Crete, Illinois |
Alma mater |
Robert Morris College, Prairie State College, Governors State University |
Profession | sales representative |
Religion | Lutheran – LCMS |
Deborah L. "Debbie" Halvorson (born March 1, 1958) is the former U.S. Representative for Illinois's 11th congressional district, serving from 2009 until 2011. Previously, she served in the Illinois Senate from 1997 through 2009. She is a member of the Democratic Party. In September 2011, she filed to run in the newly redistricted 2nd congressional district but was defeated in the Democratic primary by the incumbent, Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Halvorson grew up in Steger, Illinois and graduated from Bloom High School. She and her husband Jim Bush live in Crete and have four children and four grandchildren. She worked 13 years as a cosmetics saleswoman for Mary Kay before entering public service. She has degrees from Robert Morris College, Prairie State College and Governors State University (Bachelor of Arts and Master's in Communication). She became a sales representative, Crete Township Clerk, and an educator at the Governors State University.
Halvorson first ran for the Illinois State Senate in November 1996, defeating incumbent Republican State Senator Aldo DeAngelis 56%–44% in Illinois' 40th Senate District. In 1998, she won re-election to a second term defeating State Representative Flora Ciarlo 66%–34%. In 2002, she won re-election to a third term unopposed. In 2006, she won re-election to a fourth term with 70% of the vote.
In 2005, Halvorson became the first female Majority Leader of the Illinois State Senate.