The race for the State Senate’s 4th District is between Kimberly Lightford, the Democratic incumbent, and Republican Robert Sumrell Jr.
Illinois’ 4th District covers Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, plus parts of Oak Park and Forest Park. Here’s what voters should know about Lightford and Sumrell. Neither candidate responded to interview requests by publication.
Kimberly Lightford, Democrat
Lightford was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1998.
She’s considered a champion of education issues and has been a part of the Senate Education Committee for 22 years as a sitting member, vice chair, or chair.
Lightford is credited with starting Illinois’ universal preschool for all program and, in 2000, helped to require the State Board of Education to give students access to breakfast at school. In 2009, she aided in establishing the Illinois Hope and Opportunity Pathways through Education Program, helping re-enroll students who dropped out of high school.
In 2017, in an effort to reduce teen suicide and address mental health, Lightford led the effort requiring schools to perform social and emotional screenings for students as a part of their entry exams.
Lightford is also well-known for supporting fair pay.
She was the lead sponsor in the legislation that, in 2003, established the Illinois’ Equal Pay Act. In 2018, Lightford helped pass the African American Equal Pay Act. Last year, she sponsored legislation guaranteeing paid leave for Illinois workers.
According to her website, Lightford helped pass a measure in 2019 to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025.
In 2019, Lightford became the first Black woman to serve as Illinois Senate Majority Leader. From 2015 to 2021, she was Joint Chairman of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, where she led the caucus’ effort in creating an agenda to eliminate systemic racism in Illinois.
Robert Sumrell Jr., Republican
Sumrell Jr. served in the U.S. Navy and has a master’s degree in Public Health Administration. His current work involves assisting the elderly and disabled, according to his website.
If elected to the State Senate’s 4th District, Sumrell Jr. said he would prioritize creating more education resources and addressing immigration. His website lays out his views on a few key issues:
- He promises to advocate for equal educational resources and opportunities.
- He said he doesn’t think Lightford has transparently addressed migrants coming to her district and wants more opportunities related to migrants.
- If elected, he will provide grants and resources to local entrepreneurs through his Back to Business Reform initiative. He will also address abandoned buildings in his district and find grants to rebuild communities.
- Sumrell Jr. wants police reform and to address law enforcement’s implicit bias through retraining, education and wellness checks for police.
- He is against new taxes without reforms and vows to address District 4’s fiscal challenges.