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Jesse Jackson, Jr.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Jesse Jackson, Jr. | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 4, 1995– |
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| Preceded by | Mel Reynolds |
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| Succeeded by | Incumbent |
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| Born | March 11, 1965 Greenville, South Carolina |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Sandi Jackson |
| Religion | Baptist |
Jesse Louis Jackson, Jr. (born March 11, 1965) is a member of the United States House of Representatives representing Illinois's 2nd congressional district, which includes the southeast side and south suburbs of Chicago (map). He is the son of activist and former presidential candidate Jesse Jackson.
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Born in Greenville, South Carolina, he was educated at St. Albans School, Le Mans Academy, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and Chicago Theological Seminary. He holds a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law. Before entering the House, he was the national field director of the National Rainbow Coalition and a member of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and is also a founding board member of the Apollo Alliance. He was an all-state running back on his football team in high school and his play got him into Sports Illustrated as part of their Faces In The Crowd section.
He took his seat in the House after winning a special election in December 1995, following the resignation of Representative Mel Reynolds, who was later convicted on sex and fraud charges.
During the 2002 Democratic primary for Jackson's 2nd District congressional seat, Jackson claimed that Dolton Mayor and state Sen. William Shaw and his brother, Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Robert Shaw, had planted a bogus candidate in the primary race, a 68-year-old retired truck driver from Robbins also named “Jesse L. Jackson”, in order to confuse voters, and derail the congressman's re-election campaign. Although no criminal wrongdoing was found, the Jackson from Robbins withdrew his candidacy[1] after the unexpected death of his wife was followed by his 19-year-old grandson's death during football tryouts at Northern Illinois University.[2]
Jackson, who represents one of the most solidly Democratic districts in the nation, remains one of the highest vote-getters in the House. He was an early supporter of both U.S. Senator Barack Obama and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean. He has been an ardent backer of the long-proposed third Chicago airport in Peotone, placing him at odds with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.
He was one of the 31 who voted in the House to not count the electoral votes from Ohio in the 2004 presidential election.[3]
In March of 2005, he revealed that he had lost 50 pounds (23 kg) due to gastric bypass surgery.
Jackson is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
On November 8, 2006, Jackson reported that he would not pursue a 2007 mayoral campaign in Chicago.
| “ | [...] as you know Democrats are now poised to take control of the Congress for the first time in my eleven year career. More than any time since I took my initial oath of office, I am excited, I am eager, and I am downright giddy about the prospects of being in Washington. Washington will be the place to be in the next two years, and maybe even the foreseeable future. For me this means an unprecedented opportunity to help lead this country in a new and a better direction and to help serve my constituents, my hometown of Chicago and my state of Illinois. So I will not be a candidate for the mayor of the city of Chicago in 2007. | ” |
In the February 27, 2007 Chicago municipal elections, Jackson's wife, Sandi Jackson, won the election for Alderman in Chicago's 7th ward.
On August 1, 2007, Jackson got into a verbal disagreement with Rep. Lee Terry, a Republican from Nebraska on the House floor. Jackson then spoke profanities and challenged Terry to step outside, presumably for a physical fight[4].
Jackson is a martial arts enthusiast[5] and one of 15 members on the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
- ^ 'Other' Jackson Drops Out Of Primary Race (chicagotribune.com). Retrieved on 2007-07-18.
- ^ Other Jesse Jackson drops out of race. Retrieved on 2007-07-18.
- ^ FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 7. Retrieved on 2007-07-18.
- ^ Lee Terry, Jackson go toe-to-toe on House floor. Retrieved on 2008-08-01.
- ^ Congressman Jackson Martial Arts Photos (slideshow). Retrieved on 2008-08-01.
- U.S. Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. - official House site
- Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Jesse Jackson Jr.'s profile at Congressional Black Caucus
- Jesse Jackson Jr.'s profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
- Jesse Jackson, Jr. - official campaign site
- Articles
- Buzzflash Interview: Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. - December 30, 2002
- Jackson Jr., Jesse The Right to Vote, The Nation, January 19, 2006.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mel Reynolds |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 2nd congressional district 1995–Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |